Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act - Fall

Advisor: Ryshelle McCadney

Team Members: João Francisco Adrien Fernandes, Helena Gressler, Sion Lee,, Olivia Parker, Dhruvi Patel, Emily Siangkam, Tiffany Wu, Kelly O'Connell, Sarah Bryan

Habitat fragmentation is one of the primary drivers of biodiversity loss, limiting species’ ability to migrate, reproduce, and adapt to climate change. Tribal lands, which encompass millions of acres of ecologically important habitat, play a critical role in maintaining landscape connectivity but have historically lacked sufficient federal conservation support. The Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act addresses these challenges by enabling tribes to designate wildlife corridors and access federal funding and technical assistance to restore and protect habitat connectivity. Strengthening ecological connections across tribal and adjacent lands improves biodiversity conservation while supporting tribal stewardship and cultural relationships with wildlife.

Effective implementation depends on equitable funding distribution, strong interagency coordination, and meaningful tribal leadership throughout the program. Establishing a formal corridor designation process and grant program enables tribes to develop conservation strategies aligned with ecological priorities and local knowledge. Clear evaluation criteria and monitoring systems ensure that conservation outcomes are measurable and sustainable. Expanding habitat connectivity enhances ecosystem resilience, supports species recovery, and strengthens climate adaptation. By addressing long-standing funding inequities and empowering tribal conservation leadership, the legislation advances both biodiversity protection and environmental justice goals.

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