Land, wildlife are precious

As a field biologist who works with the wild desert tortoise population of the Mojave Desert, I am well aware that Nevada’s iconic wildlife and open spaces make it a great place for both people and wildlife to call home. However, urban development can threaten wildlife or cause irreversible damage by consuming and fragmenting their habitat, cutting off important migration corridors or affecting the quality of the air or water.

With thoughtful planning informed by experts and using the best available science, many of these impacts can be avoided or minimized to meet the needs of Nevada communities while protecting habitat and environmental quality for the benefit of wildlife and people.

Assembly Bill 211 would require developers to consult with the Nevada Department of Wildlife on significant development plans. The local government or other permitting authority would then be required to consider the impacts to wildlife and habitat when deciding whether to approve a project, or require some kind of mitigation effort.

Nevada’s lands and wildlife have become even more important during the pandemic, with families seeking solace in the outdoors for recreation and health benefits, affirming the connection between our lands’ health and our communities’ health.

AB211 would be the first step toward encouraging developers to avoid impacts to wildlife and habitat, making progress to protect the wildlife and open spaces that make our state so special. This would apply to all counties except Clark, as it already has a similar program through the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan.

Marija Minic,