CORRECTIVE REPRINT
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1037
PRINTER'S NO. 1038
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
87
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY DALEY, ORTITAY, HILL-EVANS, MADDEN, HANBIDGE,
ISAACSON, McNEILL, SAPPEY, RABB, PROBST, SAMUELSON,
SALISBURY, SANCHEZ, BENHAM, N. NELSON, BRIGGS, PICKETT,
CIRESI, MENTZER, OTTEN, MERSKI, VENKAT, VITALI, BOROWSKI,
STEELE, FRANKEL, CONKLIN, STURLA, PISCIOTTANO, GAYDOS,
SHUSTERMAN, HOWARD, O'MARA, DEASY, HOGAN, WARREN, WEBSTER,
SCOTT, TAKAC, GUENST, KINKEAD, SCHWEYER, SOLOMON, PASHINSKI,
BRENNAN, SCHEMEL, MATZIE, MAJOR, HADDOCK, CERRATO, GALLOWAY,
MULLINS, FIEDLER AND KRAJEWSKI, APRIL 25, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM AND ECONOMIC AND RECREATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT, APRIL 25, 2023
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
conduct a study and issue a report on the current status,
management and benefits of conservation corridors in this
Commonwealth.
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is home to an array of ecosystems and
has a magnificent diversity of plants, trees and wildlife that
benefit from connectivity and the conservation of high-quality
habitats, enabling species to thrive when facing habitat
stressors and changing environmental conditions; and
WHEREAS, Conservation ensures that this Commonwealth's
tourism industry continues to expand and thrive, and prevents
exploitation, destruction and neglect of this Commonwealth's
natural resources; and
WHEREAS, Outdoor recreation is among our nation's largest
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economic sectors; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is a leader in outdoor recreation
consumer spending, a critical component of our tourism industry;
and
WHEREAS, Habitat connectivity for wildlife must be maintained
and expanded because connectivity between wildlife habitats is
important to the long-term viability of this Commonwealth's
biodiversity; and
WHEREAS, The ecological benefits of habitat connectivity
include greater species richness, increased species populations
and wider dispersal of animals and plants; and
WHEREAS, A habitat stronghold is a high-quality habitat where
wildlife populations are strong, diverse and highly functioning;
and
WHEREAS, The creation of high-quality habitat strongholds for
wildlife can lead to more genetically diverse and robust
populations; and
WHEREAS, It is the policy of the Commonwealth to encourage,
wherever feasible and practical, voluntary steps to protect the
functioning of conservation corridors through various means; and
WHEREAS, Increasingly, fragmented habitats threaten this
Commonwealth's plant and wildlife species; and
WHEREAS, Understanding this Commonwealth's habitat
connectivity status and potential requires consideration of all
relevant data, including from Federal and State agencies and
surrounding states, nonprofit organizations, universities and
private landowners; and
WHEREAS, Different commissions and departments in the
Commonwealth manage conservation corridors in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Many State agencies, nonprofit organizations,
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coalitions and public-private partnerships interested in
advancing habitat connectivity across this Commonwealth could
benefit from improved understanding of current and potential
conservation corridors and support each other in coordinating
information and joint land management; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania ranks third in the nation for wildlife
vehicle collisions which cost millions of dollars in damage and
insurance claims each year; and
WHEREAS, Wildlife vehicle collisions have claimed countless
lives in recent decades and ensuring motorists' safety as they
traverse this Commonwealth's highways is critical; and
WHEREAS, It is essential that areas that provide safe
wildlife crossings be identified and utilized to prevent
wildlife vehicle collisions; and
WHEREAS, A study that identifies and evaluates conservation
corridors would be beneficial to both humans and wildlife;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study and
issue a report on the current status, management and benefits of
conservation corridors in this Commonwealth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the study:
(1) identifies and examines the approaches, statutes,
measures and management responsibilities of State agencies,
nongovernmental organizations and academic institutions to
assist in the identification and establishment of
conservation corridors in this Commonwealth;
(2) identifies existing and needed terrestrial and
aquatic conservation corridors in this Commonwealth by
synthesizing existing relevant plans and data sets, including
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Geographic Information Systems spatial data, from
governmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations and
academic institutions;
(3) aggregates the existing economic impact analyses of
the establishment of conservation corridors in areas of high
incidence of wildlife-vehicle collisions;
(4) identifies best practices of corridor
identification, corridor implementation and support,
including public-private partnerships, interagency
coordination and conservation easements; and
(5) identifies financial mechanisms and options,
including those relevant to each agency and for the
Commonwealth as a whole, to fund conservation corridors,
including Federal, State and nongovernmental sources;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
consult with organizations that:
(1) have organizational missions and expertise in
wildlife habitat and ecological conservation;
(2) provide representation of this Commonwealth's 121
State parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land, or the
interests of private landowners;
(3) integrate conservation and economic development in a
way that strengthens and inspires communities;
(4) collect data on wildlife-vehicle collisions; and
(5) have knowledge of relevant issues;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
be authorized to consult with surrounding states and private
landowners that have knowledge of relevant issues; and be it
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further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
make recommendations to organizations, landowners and agencies
relevant to identified conservation corridors regarding
collaborative engagement for the management of these areas; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
prepare a report of its findings and the recommendations of the
study and submit the report to the Senate and House of
Representatives no later than 18 months after the adoption of
this resolution.
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