'Conservation Corridors' May Be Coming Soon To PA: What To Know

HARRISBURG — A Montgomery County state legislator's resolution to study so-called 'conservation corridors' across the commonwealth has advanced out of a legislative committee and now moves on to the full House for consideration, the lawmaker's office reported on Wednesday.

The office of State Rep. Mary Jo Daley, a Democrat from Montgomery County, reported that Daley's proposal, House Resolution 74, was moved out of the House Transportation Committee Tuesday in a 24-1 vote.

The resolution seeks to direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study on Pennsylvania's conservation corridors, which are being defined as a "habitat linkage that joins two or more areas of wildlife habitat, allowing for fish passage or the movement of plant or animal wildlife from one area to another," according to a statement from Daley's office.

"Pennsylvania ranks third in the nation for wildlife-vehicle collisions, which have caused injury and death and cost millions in damage and insurance claims," Daley said in a statement. "Taking a good look at conservation corridors would provide us with valuable information that would have benefits for both Pennsylvania residents and wildlife."

Daley said her study would identify and examine the approaches and responsibilities of various government agencies and other organizations to help in the identification and establishment of conservation corridors; identify existing and needed corridors; identify best practices and financial options; and "aggregate existing economic impact analyses of the establishment of conservation corridors in areas of high incidence of wildlife-vehicle collisions," according to the statement from Daley's office.