SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), introduced AB 2320, a bill to incorporate wildlife corridors in to California’s 30 x 30 plan.
“California is the most biodiverse state in the nation,” said Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin. “Ensuring that 30×30 planning incorporates wildlife corridors will preserve habitats by increasing connectivity and prioritizing habitat continuity to protect our state’s unique wildlife.”
In 2020, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-82-20, creating an initiative to conserve 30 percent of the state’s lands and coastal waters by 2030. The 30×30 goal aims to increase the use of nature-based solutions to address the climate crisis. A key part of conservation is habitat connectivity and restoration.
AB 2320 will require the Natural Resources Agency to include the identification of wildlife corridors and fish passages, connections between habitats, progress on additional acres, and goals for wildlife corridor protection over the next 5 years in its annual report to the Legislature.
Wildlife corridors promote biodiversity by allowing species to continue to travel when habitats are fragmented by large freeways or developments. With increasing habitat loss and fragmentation, many of California’s flora and fauna are facing genetic isolation, leading to declined populations. Helping animals to safely traverse terrain when seeking food, shelter, mates and refuge from natural disasters creates safer habitats and promotes genetic diversity.
“AB 2320 will prioritize the expansion of wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity opportunities under the State’s 30×30 goals. Connectivity is essential to underpinning the resiliency of California’s rich but threatened biodiversity. We’re excited to see this bill moving forward this year,” says Candice Meneghin of the Coastal Ranches Conservancy.
AB 2320 is backed by the Coastal Ranches Conservancy and Friends of the Santa Clara River in response to high rates of habitat fragmentation and wildlife-vehicle collisions.
In 2023, BB-12, the first bear understood to live in the Santa Monica Mountains in nearly a decade, was fatally struck in Assembly District 42 while crossing Highway 101. BB-12 had successfully crossed California freeways at least 5 times and was killed 16 miles away from the ongoing construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in AD 42.
— Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin represents California’s 42nd Assembly District, which includes portions of both Ventura and Los Angeles Counties; including all of Agoura Hills, Bel Air, Beverly Glen, Brentwood, Casa Conejo, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Lake Sherwood, Malibu, Moorpark, Oak Park, Pacific Palisades, Santa Susana, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Topanga, Westlake Village, and portions of Camarillo.