Habitat Connectivity

Wildlife corridors are connections across the landscape from one habitat patch to another. Natural wildlife corridors are formed by geographic features like mountains, forests, and water drainages connecting habitats and enabling the migration of animals.

Today, habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation has resulted in the loss of many naturally occurring wildlife corridors. Ungulates such as mule deer, pronghorn, and elk experience increased mortality rates when faced with fences they must jump over or crawl under, roadways with busy traffic, and new developments that interfere with migration routes. In an effort to support and maintain biodiversity, many managers are restoring habitat and constructing man-made corridors (e.g., over and underpasses created for crossing roadways) to assist with wildlife passage.
Corridors play an important role in the health and long-term sustainability of animal populations. Many migrating species hold cultural significance for Tribal communities and Tribal lands are often vital for the movement of these animals. Tribes across the country are working to proactively manage improved habitat and conserved wildlife migration corridors. Utilizing tracking data, Tribes can identify migration routes, barriers, and solutions such as wildlife-friendly fencing, over and underpasses for crossing roadways, and restoration projects.
NAFWS recognizes the ecological and cultural importance of maintaining wildlife corridors for Tribes. NAFWS supports Tribal wildlife corridors through the following actions:

Providing technical assistance on wildlife connectivity issues, funding opportunities, and legislative updates

Active Members of coalitions to support the Tribal Wildlife Corridors act and other legislation that supports wildlife connectivity

NAFWS sits on the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) Wildlife Movement & Migration Committee, ensuring Tribal voices are included in conversations between state and federal agencies

Passed a resolution to support the protection of wildlife corridors

Wildlife Road Crossing Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 introduced by Martin Heinrich during the 119th Congress (2025–2026), would make the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program a permanent authorized program with annual appropriations of $200 million per year. The bill sets the federal share of project costs at 100% for eligible Tribal governments, effectively waiving the match requirement for Tribes under the wildlife crossings program. It also establishes a Tribal technical assistance program, dedicating up to 0.5% of annual program funds to help Tribal governments apply for and manage grants. Funding would continue to be awarded through a competitive grant application process rather than through automatic allocation.

The Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act (HR 5179, S 2891), introduced by Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), aims to establish a process for identifying Tribal wildlife corridors and authorize $50 million per year for the Tribal Corridors Grant Program to ensure that Tribal Nations have the resources for implementation and maintenance of wildlife corridors.
NAFWS recognizes the ecological and cultural importance of maintaining wildlife corridors for Tribes. NAFWS supports Tribal wildlife corridors through the following actions:

Providing technical assistance on wildlife connectivity issues, funding opportunities, and legislative updates

Active members of the Tribal coalition to support the Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation

Passed a resolution to support the protection of wildlife corridors
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Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act of 2025. Introduced by Ryan Zinke, the proposal would create new funding opportunities focused on conserving wildlife movement and migration corridors, while making tribes directly eligible to apply for support. It would also strengthen tribal science and research capacity related to wildlife movement and encourage collaboration with federal and state partners in a way that does not diminish tribal sovereignty. In addition, tribes could qualify for a 100% federal cost share, with the matching requirement proposed to be waived.
BUILD America 250 Act. The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee introduced the BUILD America Act of 2025, which proposes reestablishing the Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program (WCPP) for fiscal years 2027–2031 with funding increased to $80 million annually, totaling $400 million over five years. The proposal would provide a 100% federal cost share for tribes under the WCPP, eliminating the tribal match requirement, and would extend this benefit to all Federal Highway Administration competitive discretionary grant programs, including the Tribal Transportation Program and the Culvert Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP) program.