Sec. 202. Northern Rockies Wildlife Habitat and Corridors Information Program
286 words·~1 min read·
/bill/113/hr/1187/ih/section-202·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than six months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a Northern Rockies Fish and Wildlife Habitat and Corridors Information Program. The purpose of the program is to— support States and Indian tribes in the development of a regional information system database of fish and wildlife habitat and corridors that would inform planning and development decisions within the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, enabling each State to model climate impacts and adaptation, and provide geographically specific enhancements of State wildlife action plans; ensure the collaborative development, with the States and Indian tribes, of a comprehensive, regional geographic information system database of maps, models, data, surveys, informational products, and other geospatial information regarding fish and wildlife habitat and corridors, that— is based on consistent protocols for sampling and mapping across landscapes that take into account regional differences; and that utilizes— existing and planned State- and tribal-based geographic information system databases; and existing databases, analytical tools, metadata activities, and other information products available through the National Biological Information Infrastructure maintained by the Secretary and nongovernmental organizations; and facilitate the use of such databases by Federal, State, local, and tribal decision makers to incorporate qualitative information on fish and wildlife habitat and corridors at the earliest possible stage to— prioritize and target natural resources adaptation strategies and activities; avoid, minimize, and mitigate the impacts on fish and wildlife habitat and corridors in siting energy development, water, transmission, transportation, and other land use projects; assess the impacts of existing development on habitats and corridors; and develop management strategies to enhance the ability of fish, wildlife, and plant species to migrate or respond to shifting habitats within existing habitats and corridors.