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

VTRC 26-R37 Research Brief

Final Report VTRC 26-R37

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.

HB597 Legislative Bill

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.

Interested in working with the Conservation Affairs Committee? We are looking for members.
- If interested, contact David Luther (dluther@gmu.edu).

Have ideas or suggestions for what the Committee should consider?
- Email them to David Luther (dluther@gmu.edu)