Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity Conservation Act of 2024

Bill: 118-hr-9776
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
Introduced: 2024-09-24
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Latest action: action_date: 2024-09-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9776 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 24, 2024 Mr. Beyer (for himself, Mr. Buchanan , Mr. Fitzpatrick , and Ms. Lofgren ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources , and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture , Transportation and Infrastructure , and Armed Services , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To provide for the conservation of wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity Conservation Act of 2024 . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Findings and purposes. Sec. 3. Definitions. Title I—Science and Mapping of Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity Sec. 101. Program establishment. Title II—Collaboration, Partnership, and Conservation of American wildlife corridors Sec. 201. Designation of American wildlife corridors. Sec. 202. Management of American wildlife corridors. Sec. 203. Resource sharing and coordination. Sec. 204. Coordinating Committee. Sec. 205. Effect. Title III—Tribal Wildlife Corridors Sec. 301. Tribal Wildlife Corridors. Title IV—Wildlife Corridor Grant Program on Non-Federal Land and Water Sec. 401. Wildlife corridor grant program. Title V— Funding Sec. 501. Authorization of appropriations. 2. Findings and purposes (a) Findings Congress finds that— (1) the native fish, wildlife, and plant species in the United States are part of a rich natural heritage and an important legacy to pass on to future generations; (2) the populations of many native fish, wildlife, and plant species in the United States are in decline; (3) scientists estimate that, in the United States, 34 percent of plants and 40 percent of animals are at risk of extinction and 41 percent of ecosystems are at risk of range-wide collapse; (4) threats to the survival and diversity of many native fish, wildlife, and plant species in the United States include the loss, degradation, fragmentation, and obstruction of natural habitats; (5) habitat fragmentation reduces native biodiversity by up to 75 percent and impairs key ecosystem functions; (6) climate change threatens native fish, wildlife, and plant species; (7) the document published by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services titled Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services (2019) found that— (A) 1,000,000 wildlife and plant species worldwide are now threatened with extinction; and (B) 75 percent of the land-based environment, and approximately 66 percent of the marine environment, have been significantly altered by human actions; (8) the conservation of new and existing landscape and seascape corridors, through which native species can transition from 1 habitat to another, plays an important role in helping— (A) to conserve native biodiversity; and (B) to ensure resiliency against impacts from a range of biotic and abiotic stressors; (9) the conservation, restoration, and establishment of new ecological connections to facilitate the movement of species into more suitable habitats is a key climate change adaptation strategy; (10) the protection of new and existing corridors is often 1 of the first steps in restoration and recovery planning; (11) States have recognized the importance of habitat connectivity, including through— (A) at least 83 pieces of State legislation passed in 20 States since 2019, which have supported actions including identification of wildlife corridors and coordination of State agencies, Tribes, non-governmental organizations, and other partners to address habitat connectivity issues; (B) a New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers’ Conference on the importance of connectivity for ecosystem adaptability and resilience, biodiversity, and human communities; and (C) a Western Governors’ Association policy resolution; (12) the document published by the Council on Environmental Quality titled Guidance for Federal Departments and Agencies on Ecological Connectivity and Wildlife Corridors (March 21, 2023) acknowledges that connectivity is vital to ecosystem health and functions and it is significant to humans as well and supports the strong cultural and spiritual connections that communities have to nature ; (13) Federal and State agencies continue to develop policies to address— (A) the importance of conserving fish, wildlife, and plant corridors; (B) the gap between science and management for at-risk species; and (C) ecological connectivity; and (14) Federal policies consistently recognize the importance of voluntary improvement projects by private landowners to habitat conservation and restoration for native species. (b) Purposes The purposes of this Act are— (1) to support a diverse array of fish and wildlife, including species conserved under Federal, State, and Tribal law, that have experienced or may experience habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation, or obstruction to habitat connectivity; (2) to provide long-term habitat connectivity for fish and wildlife migration, dispersal, genetic exchange, and adaptation to climate and other environmental change; (3) to restore fish and wildlife movements that have been disrupted by habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation, or obstruction; (4) to facilitate coordinated landscape- and seascape-scale connectivity planning and management across jurisdictions; and (5) to support in prioritizing, establishing, and managing wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity areas. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Collaborative partnership The term collaborative partnership means a collaborative partnership established under section 203(a). (2) Coordinating Committee The term Coordinating Committee means Coordinating Committee established under section 204(a). (3) American wildlife corridor The term American wildlife corridor means a corridor designated by the Secretary concerned under section 201(b). (4) Habitat The term habitat means land, water, and substrate necessary at any time during the life cycle of fish and wildlife for spawning, breeding, feeding, growth to maturity, or migration. (5) Habitat connectivity The term habitat connectivity means the degree to which the landscape (including terrestrial, riparian, and aquatic habitats) or seascape facilitates fish and wildlife movement. (6) Habitat connectivity area The term habitat connectivity area means an identified, distinct component of the natural world in the United States that provides habitat connectivity, a migration route, seasonal habitat, or a dispersal area to a native species. (7) Indian land The term Indian land means land of an Indian Tribe, or an Indian individual, that is— (A) held in trust by the United States; or (B) subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the United States. (8) Indian Tribe The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5304 ). (9) Military installation The term military installation has the meaning given the term in section 100 of the Sikes Act ( 16 U.S.C. 670 ), and includes military off-shore range complexes and off-shore operating areas. (10) Regional ocean partnership The term regional ocean partnership means a regional organization of coastal or Great Lakes States, territories, or possessions voluntarily convened by Governors to address cross-jurisdictional ocean matters, or the functional equivalent of such a regional ocean organization designated by the Governor or Governors of a State or States. (11) Secretary concerned (A) Secretary concerned The term Secretary concerned means the Secretary with applicable jurisdiction from among the following: (i) The Secretary of the Interior. (ii) The Secretary of Transportation. (iii) The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service. (iv) The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (v) The Secretary of Defense. (B) Secretaries The term Secretaries means each of the Secretaries described in subparagraph (A). (12) Tribal wildlife corridor The term Tribal wildlife corridor means a corridor established by the Secretary under section 301. (13) United States The term United States , when used in a geographical sense, means— (A) a State; (B) the District of Columbia; (C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; (D) Guam; (E) American Samoa; (F) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; (G) the Federated States of Micronesia; (H) the Republic of the Marshall Islands; (I) the Republic of Palau; (J) the United States Virgin Islands; and (K) all marine waters within the jurisdiction of the United States. (14) Wildlife movement The term wildlife movement means the passage of individual members or populations of a native fish, wildlife, or plant species across a landscape or seascape. I Science and Mapping of Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity 101. Program establishment (a) Establishment The Director shall establish and maintain a habitat connectivity area mapping and science program to carry out this section. (b) Purpose The purpose of the program is to develop mapping and science to support Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments and the public in efforts to protect habitat connectivity areas. (c) Wildlife movement, migration, and habitat connectivity mapping (1) Mapping efforts The Director shall expand and build upon existing agency efforts to map fish and wildlife habitat connectivity areas. Such efforts shall include working with, incorporating data from, and sharing data between— (A) Federal agencies; (B) State, Tribal, and local governments; (C) nongovernmental organizations; and (D) academic institutions. (2) Use of technology The Director shall— (A) use new data management, visualization, and analysis capabilities to analyze fish and wildlife movements and delineate habitat connectivity areas; and (B) share these capabilities with Federal, State, local, and Tribal wildlife managers. (3) Distribution of maps The Director shall develop and make available to the public— (A) a database of fish and wildlife habitat connectivity areas; and (B) maps of habitat connectivity areas and American wildlife corridors to guide land-use planning and on-the-ground management of fish and wildlife resources. (4) Report Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report that— (A) provides an assessment of existing maps, data, models, surveys, and descriptions of habitat connectivity areas that have been developed by— (i) Federal, State, Tribal, and local fish and wildlife agencies and natural heritage programs; (ii) nongovernmental organizations; and (iii) industry; and (B) identifies gaps in information about native species wildlife corridors or habitat connectivity areas. (5) Proprietary interests and protected information In carrying out this section, the Director shall— (A) protect proprietary interests with respect to confidential information and licensed data; and (B) protect such information relating to the habitats and ranges of specific native fish and wildlife as the Director determines appropriate to protect such fish and wildlife. (d) Wildlife movement, migration, and habitat connectivity research The Director shall conduct research to help guide management of habitat connectivity areas, including— (1) a study to evaluate the impacts of climate change on habitat connectivity areas and forecast how habitat connectivity areas and American wildlife corridors may need to shift to allow fish and wildlife to adapt; (2) a study to quantify the effect of ongoing and planned development on habitat connectivity areas and American wildlife corridors; (3) a study to develop new mapping methods to prioritize critical wildlife corridors or habitat connectivity areas; and (4) a study to evaluate the effectiveness of efforts to address habitat fragmentation and mitigation barriers to fish and wildlife movement and migration through habitat connectivity areas. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Director The term Director means the Director of the United States Geological Survey. (2) Program The term program means the habitat connectivity area mapping and science program established by the Director under subsection (a). II Collaboration, Partnership, and Conservation of American wildlife corridors 201. Designation of American wildlife corridors (a) Nominations (1) Partner agencies nominations State, Tribal, and local governments and collaborative partnerships may nominate Federal lands and waters as American wildlife corridors. (2) Coordinating Committee nominations The Coordinating Committee shall, not later than 2 years after the date on which the Coordinating Committee is established and not less frequently than every 5 years thereafter, nominate habitat connectivity areas to be designated as American wildlife corridors. (b) Designation of American wildlife corridors (1) In general The Secretaries shall review each habitat connectivity area within the jurisdiction of the Secretaries, giving priority to areas nominated under subsection (a), and designate habitat connectivity areas as a American wildlife corridors according to the criteria established under subsection (d). (2) Nominated areas With respect to any area for which the Secretary concerned receives a nomination under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall make a determination under paragraph (1) not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary concerned receives such nomination. (c) Management of wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity areas Not later than 6 months after a designation under subsection (b), the Secretaries shall make such land use and management plans (or revisions of existing such plans) as the Secretaries determine appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Act. (d) Prioritization criteria The Secretaries shall establish criteria to determine which habitat connectivity areas to designate as American wildlife corridors. Such criteria shall include— (1) whether such designation is in concert with existing— (A) Federal land and resource management plans and the ongoing management activities for wildlife corridors or habitat connectivity areas on Federal lands and waters; (B) State, Tribal, and collaborative partnership management plans; and (C) Tribal wildlife corridors; (2) the use of the best available science relating to— (A) existing fish and wildlife habitat connectivity areas; and (B) potential future native species habitats connectivity areas; and (3) whether the unit of land or water is a priority for conservation and restoration because the area— (A) provides habitat connectivity and supports the persistence, resilience, adaptability, and movement of fish and wildlife; (B) has the potential to benefit more than 1 species of fish and wildlife; or (C) has the potential to benefit a fish or wildlife species that is listed as a threatened species or an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ). (e) Regulations Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretaries shall issue such regulations as the Secretaries determine necessary to carry out this section. 202. Management of American wildlife corridors (a) In general The Secretaries shall manage American wildlife corridors in a manner that contributes to the long-term persistence, resilience, adaptability, and movement of fish and wildlife through— (1) the maintenance, restoration, or improvement of habitat connectivity, including establishment of clear goals and monitoring plans; (2) the limitation of human infrastructure, development, and activities that impede the natural movement of fish and wildlife; (3) the implementation of strategies and activities that enhance the ability of fish and wildlife to respond to changing environmental conditions; (4) the use of existing conservation programs managed by the Secretary concerned to contribute to the persistence, resilience, adaptability, and movement of fish and wildlife; and (5) providing education and outreach regarding the benefits of American wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity areas. (b) Coordinated management Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, each of the Secretaries shall update all relevant regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, instructions, manuals, directives, notices, implementing actions, and other relevant documents and procedures to support the management and long-term conservation of habitat connectivity areas. (c) Land and resource management plan revision The Secretaries shall, during each land use or resource plan review, amend or revise each such plan to— (1) conserve, restore, and manage habitat connectivity areas; (2) consider designating the land or water as a American wildlife corridor under section 201(b). (d) Multiple jurisdictions The Secretaries shall carry out conservation and restoration activities in American wildlife corridors that are subject to the jurisdiction of more than 1 of the Secretaries in consultation with each of the Secretaries concerned. (e) Road mitigation In the case of American wildlife corridors that intersect, adjoin, or cross a new or existing State, Tribal, or local road or highway, the Secretaries shall consult with State, Tribal, and local transportation agencies, as appropriate, to identify and implement voluntary environmental mitigation measures— (1) to improve public safety and reduce vehicle-caused fish and wildlife mortality while conserving or restoring habitat connectivity; and (2) to mitigate damage to the natural movements of fish and wildlife through strategies including— (A) the construction, maintenance, or replacement of fish and wildlife underpasses, overpasses, culverts, fences, and other mitigation measures; and (B) the maintenance, replacement, or removal of dams, bridges, culverts, and other hydrological obstructions. (f) Report to Congress Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, and not less frequently than every 5 years thereafter, the Coordinating Committee shall submit to Congress a report regarding the efforts of the Secretaries to carry out this Act and the effect of such efforts on the conservation and management of habitat connectivity, seasonal habitat, wildlife movement, and migration routes on Federal land and water, including the following with respect to Federal land and waters: (1) A description of existing management practices relating to the purposes of this Act. (2) An inventory of known wildlife movement structures and fish passage projects. (3) A description of short- and long-term threats to wildlife corridors or habitat connectivity areas. (4) A description of opportunities to conserve and improve the quality and condition of habitat connectivity, seasonal habitat, dispersal areas, wildlife movement, and migration routes. (5) A description of opportunities to coordinate State, Tribal, and local governments and collaborative partnership efforts to carry out this Act with other landscape-scale conservation plans. (6) Strategies for climate adaptation and resilience with respect to habitat connectivity, seasonal habitat, wildlife movement, and migration routes. (7) A description of opportunities to expand partnerships with State, Tribal, and local governments, collaborative partnerships, and the public to carry out the purposes of this Act. (8) A description of current transportation programs, funding mechanisms and other authorities that could be used to conserve and improve habitat connectivity, seasonal habitat, dispersal areas, wildlife movement, and migration routes. 203. Resource sharing and coordination (a) Collaborative partnerships (1) In general The Secretaries may establish collaborative partnerships with entities described in paragraph (3) that are balanced, multistakeholder groups that are transparent, nonexclusive, and reasonably representative of affected interests to further the purposes of this Act that— (A) establish agreement on— (i) the role of Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments agencies; (ii) how the Secretary concerned will coordinate efforts to conserve, restore, and manage habitat connectivity areas; and (B) identify regional liaisons to represent the collective Federal agencies in working with State, Tribal, and local governments, collaborative partnerships, and the public to carry out such conservation, restoration, and management; and (2) Coordinators The Secretaries shall each appoint a national-level coordinator to work with the regional liaisons identified under paragraph (1)(B) and monitor implementation of the efforts of collaborative partnerships. (3) Entities described The entities described in this paragraph are the following: (A) Voluntary private landowners. (B) Nonprofit organizations. (C) Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies. (D) Elected officials. (E) Stakeholder groups. (b) Resource sharing The Secretaries shall partner with, and provide technical assistance and other resources to, State, Tribal, and local governments, collaborative partnerships, and voluntary private landowners to support the purposes of this Act. (c) Consultation The Secretaries shall implement this title in consultation with— (1) other relevant Federal agencies through the Coordinating Committee; (2) State, Tribal, and local governments, including fish and wildlife, natural resource management, and transportation agencies; (3) with respect to any action that directly affects a private landowner, such private landowner; (4) such other stakeholders as the Secretaries determine appropriate; and (5) landscape- and seascape-scale partnerships, including— (A) National Fish Habitat Partnerships; (B) the Regional Fishery Management Councils established under section 302(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1852(a) ); (C) relevant regional ocean partnerships; (D) the Climate Science Centers of the Department of the Interior; (E) Migratory Bird Joint Ventures; and (F) the Landscape Conservation Cooperative Network. 204. Coordinating Committee (a) Coordinating Committee Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretaries shall establish a coordinating committee composed of representatives of the Secretaries. (b) Strategy for prioritization Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Coordinating Committee is established, the Coordinating Committee shall develop a strategy— (1) for nominating American wildlife corridors for designation under section 203(a); (2) to support the fulfillment of the purposes of this Act; (3) to ensure coordination and consistency with Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments and collaborative partnerships in conserving wildlife corridors or habitat connectivity areas; (4) to provide education or outreach regarding the benefits of wildlife corridors or habitat connectivity areas; and (5) such other measures as the Coordinating Committee determines necessary for implementation of this Act. 205. Effect (a) Jurisdiction of States and Indian Tribes Nothing in this title affects the jurisdiction of a State or an Indian Tribe with respect to fish and wildlife management, including the regulation of hunting, fishing, and trapping, in a American wildlife corridor or a Tribal Wildlife Corridor. (b) Savings clause Nothing in this section authorizes— (1) any seizure of private property through eminent domain; or (2) the imposition of any restriction on the use of private land without the consent of the landowner. (c) Defense waivers (1) In general The Secretary of Defense may waive any requirement of this title with respect to a military installation if such Secretary determines that such waiver is necessary— (A) to ensure the preparedness of the Armed Forces; or (B) to support the military mission of the military installation. (2) Public notice The Secretary of Defense shall publish each waiver issued under paragraph (1) unless such Secretary determines that such publication will have a negative effect on national security. III Tribal Wildlife Corridors 301. Tribal Wildlife Corridors (a) Establishment (1) In general (A) Nominations An Indian Tribe may nominate a corridor within the jurisdiction of such Indian Tribe as a Tribal wildlife corridor by submitting an application to the Secretary of the Interior at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as such Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, may require. (B) Determination Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary of the Interior receives an application under subparagraph (A), such Secretary shall determine whether the nominated Tribal Wildlife Corridor described in the application meets the criteria established under paragraph (2). (C) Publication On approval of an application under subparagraph (B), the Secretary of the Interior shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of the establishment of the Tribal Wildlife Corridor, which shall include a map and description of the Tribal Wildlife Corridor. (2) Criteria (A) Establishment of criteria Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of the Interior shall establish criteria for determining whether to designate a corridor nominated by an Indian Tribe under paragraph (1)(A) as a Tribal Wildlife Corridor. (B) Required criteria The criteria established under subparagraph (A) shall include consideration of the historical, present, and potential future role of the areas as a habitat connectivity area. (3) Termination An Indian Tribe may elect to terminate the designation of a Tribal Wildlife Corridor within the jurisdiction of such Tribe by notifying the Secretary of the Interior of such election. (b) Coordination of land use plans Section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1712 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) by striking Indian tribes by and inserting the following: Indian Tribes— (1) by ; (B) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (2) for the purposes of determining whether the land use plans for land in the National Forest System would provide additional habitat connectivity to benefit the purposes of a Tribal wildlife corridor established under section 301 of the Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity Conservation Act of 2024 . ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (g) Tribal Wildlife Corridors On the establishment of a Tribal Wildlife Corridor under section 301 of the Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity Conservation Act of 2024 , the Secretary shall conduct a meaningful consultation with the Indian Tribe that administers the Tribal Wildlife Corridor to determine whether, through the revision of 1 or more existing land use plans, the Tribal Wildlife Corridor can— (1) be expanded into public lands; or (2) otherwise benefit habitat connectivity (as defined in section 2 of that Act) between public lands and the Tribal Wildlife Corridor. . (c) Technical assistance The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to Indian Tribes relating to the establishment, management, and expansion of a Tribal Wildlife Corridor, including assistance with accessing wildlife data and working with voluntary private landowners to access Federal and State programs to improve habitat connectivity on non-Federal land. (d) Savings clause Nothing in this section may be construed to— (1) authorize the Federal Government to conduct any activity on Indian land without the consent of each affected Indian Tribe; or (2) alter or waive the Federal trust responsibility to Indian Tribes. (e) Exemption from Freedom of Information Act (1) Exemption Information described in paragraph (2) is not subject to disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the Freedom of Information Act ), if the head of the agency that receives the information, in consultation with the Secretary and the affected Indian Tribe, determines that disclosure may— (A) cause a significant invasion of privacy; (B) risk harm to human remains or resources, cultural items, uses, or activities; or (C) impede the use of a traditional religious site by practitioners. (2) Information described Information referred to in paragraph (1) is information received by a Federal agency— (A) pursuant to this section relating to— (i) the location, character, or ownership of human remains of a person of Indian ancestry; or (ii) resources, cultural items, uses, or activities identified by an Indian Tribe as traditional or cultural because of the long-established significance or ceremonial nature to the Indian Tribe; or (B) pursuant to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act ( 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq. ). IV Wildlife Corridor Grant Program on Non-Federal Land and Water 401. Wildlife corridor grant program (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to establish and administer a wildlife corridor grant program (referred to in this section as the grant program ). (b) Grants Not later than 180 days after funds are made available to carry out this section, the Foundation, in consultation with the Secretary and Coordinating Committee, shall make grants to eligible entities to carry out projects that— (1) are consistent with criteria established by a technical advisory committee convened by the Foundation and consisting of balanced representation from relevant Federal, State, and Tribal government agencies, affected private landowners, and nongovernmental organizations with relevant expertise; (2) are recommended or approved for funding by a review committee convened by the Foundation, including members of the Coordinating Committee; and (3) increase habitat connectivity and fish and wildlife movement and migration on non-Federal lands and waters. (c) Administrative support The Foundation may expend not more than 5 percent of amounts appropriated to carry out this section for administrative expenses in each fiscal year. (d) Donations The Foundation may solicit and accept donations of amounts to carry out this section. (e) Disclosure of use Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, and not less frequently than annually thereafter, the Secretary and the Foundation shall publish a description of projects funded by grants issued under subsection (b) during the preceding calendar year. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means— (A) a private landowner; (B) a State, Tribal, or local government or any agency thereof responsible for managing wildlife, natural resources, or transportation; (C) an agricultural cooperative; (D) a water, irrigation, or rural water district or association, or other organization with water delivery authority, including acequias and land grant communities in the State of New Mexico; (E) an institution of higher education; (F) a nongovernmental organization; (G) a collaborative partnership; or (H) any group of entities described in subparagraph (A) through (G). (2) Foundation The term Foundation means the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. (3) Grant program The term grant program means the wildlife corridor grant program established pursuant to subsection (a). (4) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) ). (5) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. V Funding 501. Authorization of appropriations (a) Science and mapping of wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity areas There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior to carry out title I $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter. (b) Collaboration, partnership, and conservation of wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity areas on federal land and water There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out title II for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter— (1) to the Secretary of the Interior, $20,000,000; (2) to the Secretary of Transportation, $18,000,000; (3) to the Secretary of Agriculture, $10,000,000; (4) to the Secretary of Commerce, $9,000,000; and (5) to the Secretary of Defense, $3,000,000. (c) Tribal wildlife corridors There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out title III $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter. (d) Wildlife corridor grant program on non-Federal land and water There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior to carry out title IV $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter. Each fiscal year, not less than 10 percent of the total funds shall be reserved for projects that directly conserve, restore, or enhance big game migration corridors or seasonal habitat.