Conservation Affairs
Committee Chair: David Luther
Purpose and Goals of this committee are the sustainability and conservation of wildlife populations in the state of Virginia.
Projects Supported by the VA Chapter
Virginia Wildlife Corridor Action Plan
Under the legislated Virginia Wildlife Corridor Action Plan (WCAP), the Virginia Department of Transportation and other state agencies are directed to identify wildlife corridors, identify areas with a high risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions, and recommend wildlife crossing projects. The first version of WCAP was released in 2023 and listed several “recommendations for future actions” for its next iteration in 2027. Two of these recommendations include identifying (1) habitat corridors for at-risk small terrestrial species and (2) wildlife crossing concern areas (i.e., high-risk road segments) for these species.
Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund established; voluntary contributions; report. Establishes the Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund to provide grants for projects that conserve or enhance wildlife corridors prioritized by the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan and associated wildlife crossing infrastructure projects. The Director of the Department of Wildlife Resources shall administer the Fund in collaboration with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Department of Forestry, and the Department of Transportation. The Director of the Department of Wildlife Resources shall submit a report to the General Assembly by November 1 of each odd-numbered year concerning the amount of public and private funding received by the Fund, the awarding of grants from the Fund, and the progress of funded projects, including data on the use of project infrastructure by wildlife. The bill also provides mechanisms for individuals to make voluntary contributions to the Fund through a Department of Motor Vehicles electronic transaction and an individual income tax return.
Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance
The public is asked to weigh in on the Trump administration’s more than 400-page proposed rule that would significantly alter the federal grant process. The proposed changes would place federal grant decisions in the hands of political appointees, allow funding to be switched off when government priorities change and prevent flexibility in the agencies’ application of this new rule book.
The proposed rule, Regulation of Federal Funding, comes from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and would make significant changes to the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance, the rulebook for how grants and federal funding are awarded and overseen. The proposed changes would be applicable to all science agencies as they make OMB guidance binding, which would end past freedoms for agencies to tailor requirements for their research communities. The changes are in alignment with the executive order “Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking,” which was released last August.
Comments are due on or before July 13, 2026. Late comments will be considered only to the extent practicable.
Roadless Areas: US Forest Service
On Aug. 18, 2026, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brook L. Rollins announced that the proposed rule and draft environmental impact statement that recommends removing the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule will publish in the Federal Register.
Removing the national policy that applies to all roadless areas would allow national forest and grassland leadership to determine how those areas are managed, including where and when to reduce wildfire risk based on local conditions and with public involvement through forest planning. Managing roadless areas through forest plans reduces regulatory burden and provides greater flexibility to guide management of National Forest System lands.
National forests and grasslands are managed similarly for conservation and multiple uses, but they differ in how their unique geography, ecosystems, and local resource needs shape management decisions and conservation activities. Returning decision-making authority to local leaders ensures that issues such as reducing wildfire risks and forest health are addressed based on local conditions rather than a one-size fits all regulation.
As a multi-use land management agency, we make decisions by considering interconnected factors of ecology, economics, laws and culture. Our goal is to support the best decisions so forests remain health to meet today’s needs and continue providing benefits well into the future.The 30-day comment period for the proposed rule and draft environmental statement ends at midnight Sept. 21, 2026.
- Interested in working with the Conservation Affairs Committee? We are looking for members.
- If interested, contact David Luther (dluther@gmu.edu).
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Have ideas or suggestions for what the Committee should consider?
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Email them to David Luther (dluther@gmu.edu)
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