Defenders of Wildlife Partners with Rep. Don Beyer on Monumental Corridors Act

Defenders of Wildlife today celebrated the introduction of the Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity Conservation Act of 2026, a landmark bill that would establish a national framework for identifying, designating and protecting wildlife corridors across the country. Sponsored by Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) and co-led by Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (R-PA), the bill aims to strengthen coordination among federal agencies, land managers, states and tribes, allowing them to manage national parks, wildlife refuges, forests and public lands as one unified ecosystem rather than detached units.

"Rep. Beyer, Buchanan, Lofgren and Fitzpatrick's legislation would address a key driver of the biodiversity crisis by enhancing wildlife connectivity across our public lands," said Christian Hunt, director of national wildlife refuges and parks program at Defenders of Wildlife. "The science is clear - where wildlife movement is restricted, local extinctions follow. This bill offers a durable, long-term solution that will be critical to reversing that trend."

Wildlife corridors are often fragmented by logging, mining, roads and urban development. When pathways are broken apart, wildlife becomes isolated in smaller, disconnected patches - increasing the risk of population decline and extinction.

"Habitat loss and fragmentation are major drivers of declining wildlife populations. Rep. Beyer's bill directly addresses this alarming reality and helps prevent further degradation," said Kelly Cox, senior policy and planning specialist for national wildlife refuges and parks. "Wildlife corridors reconnect landscapes, reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and help species adapt to an ever-changing world. We know this approach is both efficient and effective, and this bill will help scale those results nationally."

Rep. Beyer recently sponsored four other notable connectivity bills that collectively reflect a complementary approach to protecting wildlife movement. Together, these bills have set the stage for the Corridors Act - a landmark advancement in national wildlife connectivity. Defenders looks forward to continuing to work with Rep. Beyer and his co-sponsors to drive this legislation forward.

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For over 75 years, Defenders of Wildlife has remained dedicated to protecting all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With a nationwide network of nearly 2.1 million members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroomor follow us on X @Defenders.

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