SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California Senate today passed legislation requiring cities and counties to protect wildlife connectivity in their land use plans. The Room to Roam Act, Bill 1889, directs local agencies to minimize damage to wildlife movements as part of their long-term planning and provides development guidelines such as incorporating wildlife-friendly fencing and lighting.
The bill, which received support from the state Assembly in May, now awaits approval from the governor.
“Decades of reckless development decisions have fragmented California’s landscape, and wildlife is paying the price,” said JP Rose, director of Urban Wildlands Policy at the Center for Biological Diversity. “If we plan development with nature in mind, our wild neighbors can have a chance to roam and ultimately thrive.”
Many animals in California are at risk because their habitat has been destroyed by poorly planned development. They are trapped and struggling to survive. Mountain lions, California red-legged frogs, mule deer, and many other animals struggle to find food and shelter, and some suffer from harmful inbreeding due to habitat fragmentation.
“California has more threatened and endangered species than any other state,” said Mari Galloway, California director of the Wildlands Network. “AB 1889 is an important tool to promote our biodiversity by bridging the gap between local land use and wildlife habitat needs.”
The bill, co-sponsored by the Center and Wildlands Network, complements the Safe Roads and Wildlife Protection Act, which requires the California Department of Transportation to prioritize wildlife crossings when improving or building roads. It also complements the Center-sponsored California Ecosystems Protection Act of 2023, which makes landscapes safer for wildlife by limiting toxic rodenticides. The Room to Roam Act also helps California meet its 30×30 goal of protecting 30% of the state’s land and water by 2030.
