New Legislation Offers Vital Support for Habitat Conservation in Cities and Towns

As we rejoice World Migratory Chicken Day this week, newly launched bipartisan laws within the U.S. Home of Representatives improves the trail ahead for the thousands and thousands of migratory birds that journey via American cities and cities every year. The Native Communities & Chicken Habitat Stewardship Act, bipartisan laws co-sponsored by Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA), gives native companions assist for voluntary tasks to enhance habitat that’s good for birds and other people in communities stretching from Alaska to Alabama. The invoice establishes a brand new devoted funding of $1 million yearly for the City Chicken Treaty program, as managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Along with supporting birds, this system helps efforts that may ship tangible advantages to folks and companies, from rising inexperienced house and enhancing out of doors recreation to bettering resilience to flooding and minimizing city warmth islands. Improved habitat additionally affords financial advantages by supporting the passion of birdwatching, which is loved by over 96 million Individuals and creates a complete financial output of $279 billion yearly.

“This spring, some 3.5 billion birds will migrate throughout the USA, together with as many as 500 million flying on some nights,” mentioned Felice Stadler, vice chairman of presidency affairs on the Nationwide Audubon Society. “However for them to soundly make their annual journeys, we have to guarantee our communities are chicken pleasant. Contemplating our chicken populations have dropped by 30 % since 1970, it’s critical that significant bipartisan laws just like the Native Communities & Chicken Habitat Stewardship Act turns into regulation, so we cut back this decline and bend the chicken curve.”

The City Chicken Treaty program helps partnerships with native companies, non-profit organizations, companies, and civic associations. Along with conservation and group schooling, this system helps efforts to scale back hazards to birds in city environments, together with collisions with buildings, invasive species, and extra.  

About Audubon 

The Nationwide Audubon Society is a number one nonprofit conservation group with 120 years of science-based, community-driven affect, devoted to defending birds and the locations they want, in the present day and tomorrow. Birds are highly effective indicators of our planet’s well being, performing as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and encourage motion. Audubon works throughout the Western Hemisphere, pushed by the understanding that what is nice for birds is nice for the planet. Via a collaborative, bipartisan strategy throughout habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives significant and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 employees and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing pressure dedicated to making sure a greater planet for each birds and other people for generations to return. Be taught extra at www.audubon.org and on Fb, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety. 

Media Contact: Jeff Billington, jeff.billington@audubon.org