SB376: relative to wildlife corridors.

CHAPTER 243

SB 376-FN - FINAL VERSION

02/11/2016 0395s

03/24/2016 1061s

05/19/2016 1996EBA

2016 SESSION

16-2810

10/05

SENATE BILL 376-FN

AN ACT relative to wildlife corridors.

SPONSORS: Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Woodburn, Dist 1; Rep. Backus, Hills. 19

COMMITTEE: Energy And Natural Resources

ANALYSIS

This bill requires the fish and game department to identify existing and needed wildlife corridors connecting wildlife habitats in the state and to make recommendations for legislative changes.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

02/11/2016 0395s 16-2810

03/24/2016 1061s 10/05

05/19/2016 1996EBA

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Sixteen

AN ACT relative to wildlife corridors.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

243:1 Wildlife Corridors; Findings. The legislature finds and declares that:

I. It is recognized as a public good that habitat connectivity, including wildlife corridors and habitat linkages, be maintained and expanded. It is the policy of the state of New Hampshire to encourage, wherever feasible and practical, voluntary steps to protect the functioning of wildlife corridors through various means, as applicable.

II. Areas containing diverse ecological and geological characteristics are vital to the continual health and well-being of the state's natural resources and of its citizens.

III. Connectivity between wildlife habitats is important to the long-term viability of the state's biodiversity. Preserving and connecting high-quality habitat for wildlife can create habitat strongholds. Increasingly fragmented habitats threaten the state's wildlife species.

IV. Analysis of the state's habitat connectivity benefits from the consideration of all relevant data, including information from private and public landowners.

243:2 Fish and Game Department; Report.

I. Because of the importance of wildlife corridors to assist in adapting to warming temperatures and shifting habitats and creating habitat strongholds, and in order to protect ecosystem health and biodiversity and improve the resiliency of wildlife and their habitats to such existing and potential changes, the fish and game department, in collaboration with the department of environmental services and the department of transportation, shall identify existing and needed wildlife corridors, including riparian corridors, and including potential crossings of transportation arteries, such as a possible crossing in the Jefferson-Randolph section of Route 2. Prior to entrance onto private property for purposes described in this paragraph, the fish and game department, the department of environmental services, and the department of transportation shall obtain landowner permission. The executive director of fish and game, the commissioner of the department of transportation, and the commissioner of the department of environmental services shall direct their departments to research voluntary mechanisms such as easements and cooperative management agreements that affect wildlife corridors and shall make, after receiving public comment, recommendations concerning any potential changes.

II. The executive director shall file a report containing the department's findings pursuant to paragraph I and any recommendations to the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate no later than June 30, 2018.

III. For purposes of this act, "wildlife corridor" means a habitat linkage that joins 2 or more areas of wildlife habitat, allowing for fish passage or the movement of wildlife from one area to another, and "habitat stronghold" means high-quality habitat that supports wildlife in being more resilient to increasing pressures on species due to climate change and land development.

243:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: June 10, 2016

Effective Date: August 9, 2016