Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity Conservation Act of 2026

The bill, titled the "Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity Conservation Act of 2026," aims to conserve native fish, wildlife, and plant species by addressing habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation. It seeks to provide long-term habitat connectivity for species migration, dispersal, and adaptation to environmental changes, including climate change. The legislation emphasizes restoring disrupted wildlife movements and facilitating coordinated landscape-scale planning across various jurisdictions.

To achieve these goals, the bill establishes a habitat connectivity mapping and science program, led by the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, to develop and share data and maps for land-use planning. It also creates a National Wildlife Corridors System on federal land and water, designated through statute, rulemaking, or land use management plans. A Coordinating Committee, comprising various federal agencies and stakeholders, will nominate areas and develop a strategy for the system's implementation.

Management of these National Wildlife Corridors will focus on maintaining and restoring habitat connectivity, prohibiting infrastructure that impedes wildlife movement, and enhancing species adaptation. The Secretaries of relevant agencies must update regulations and land use plans to support these corridors, which will be withdrawn from certain public land laws. The bill mandates extensive consultation with state, tribal, and local governments, private landowners, and various partnerships, including those focused on ocean and climate science.

For non-federal lands, the bill establishes a wildlife movement grant program, administered by the Secretary of the Interior, to fund projects that increase habitat connectivity. Eligible recipients include private landowners, state agencies, Indian Tribes, and academic institutions. The legislation authorizes significant appropriations for science, federal corridor management, and the grant program, with a portion reserved for big game migration corridors. Importantly, it safeguards state and tribal jurisdiction over fish and wildlife management, prohibits eminent domain, and allows for defense waivers under specific conditions.