Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2022 - Summer

Team Members: Courtney Federico, Carrie Fernandes, Mel Peh, Morgan Lehman, Candice Asare, Oliver Hegi, Ezekiel Maben, Ishaan Ghose, Haotian Ni, Moulika Aluri, Jackson (Ziqi) Liu

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2022 establishes a dedicated federal funding stream to support the conservation of species of greatest conservation need and prevent further biodiversity loss across the United States. More than 12,000 species currently face elevated extinction risk, largely due to habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, and pollution. Historically, conservation funding has focused on already endangered species, which is both more expensive and less effective than proactive protection. The legislation addresses this gap by allocating approximately $1.3 billion annually to states, territories, and tribal governments to implement State Wildlife Action Plans, enabling early intervention to stabilize vulnerable species and restore critical habitats before they require emergency protections under the Endangered Species Act.

Proactive conservation investments significantly improve ecological and economic outcomes by reducing long-term recovery costs and protecting ecosystem services that support agriculture, water quality, and climate resilience. Analysis of wildlife management programs demonstrates that early habitat restoration, invasive species control, and conservation planning are far more cost-effective than delayed intervention after species populations collapse. However, effective implementation depends on ensuring consistent funding, strengthening coordination among federal, state, and tribal agencies, and establishing clear performance metrics to track species recovery. The legislation also improves equity by expanding tribal access to conservation funding and supporting local stewardship. By shifting conservation toward prevention rather than crisis response, the Act provides a scalable framework for protecting biodiversity, strengthening ecosystem resilience, and reducing long-term environmental and economic risks associated with species loss.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Workshop in Applied Earth Systems Management.