Action Alert

Attention SLV Ecosystem Council members and public lands supporters; Wildlife needs your support!

Please consider sending an email to show support for the  draft Saguache County Wildlife Corridor Resolution (see draft below). Our Commissioners need to see that County residents support this draft resolution. To do this, we are asking our member base to email Wendi Maez: wmaez@saguachecounty-co.gov with letters of support. (See sample letters/ideas below). If possible, please send a copy of your email to us. We appreciate understanding your communication with public officials.

There is a big federal policy push happening now to protect wildlife habitats and corridors within larger landscapes; many of these areas are contained within our federal public lands. This push is known as the 30x30 Resolution, and aims to protect 30% of the land and water in the USA by 2030. The Saguache County Wildlife Corridor Resolution shows that our local leaders are taking initiative in supporting the 30X30 Resolution. 

Background for wildlife corridor policy 

Public officials on the local County Commissioner and statewide representative level are being asked to get involved and are assembling Resolutions (see Colorado state resolution).

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 21-021: This Resolution supports a larger effort to preserve connected wildlife habitats and corridors throughout the states and nation. View it here.

Send a Letter of Support

Sending a message, in your own words, to our local Saguache County Commissioners is important right now to show public support for their draft resolution. What are some considerations you may want to include in your email? 

• Without ecological corridors to connect important habitat, protected areas become isolated ‘islands’ that are unable to sustain wildlife populations. Colorado’s iconic wildlife — including moose, elk, deer, and pronghorn, as well as non-game species such as lynx and cutthroat trout — depend on intact seasonal habitats and the migratory routes that connect them. From Pagosa Sun. 

• Safeguarding wildlife corridors means protecting Colorado’s biodiversity and unparalleled outdoor recreation opportunities. According to a 2017 analysis commissioned by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the state’s outdoor recreation industry employs more than 511,000 Coloradans and provides $9.4 billion annually in local and state tax revenue. From Pagosa Sun. 

• An additional economic benefit of habitat connectivity is that it decreases costly conflicts between vehicles and wildlife, by giving them safer passage. From Pagosa Sun. 

• Habitat preservation and migration corridors will be of critical importance in the years to come as the landscape faces the challenges of drought, warming, increased human pressure, etc. and will give wildlife some variables to adapt.

• It’s important to sustain migration corridors that encompass both high- and low-elevation habitat and the connections between the two, as this offers that year-round habitat feeding, breeding and nesting areas that are so important for continued survival. 

• The Colorado State resolution 21-021above passed the senate unanimously.  Talk about bipartisan support! 

• We also support the Gunnison Public Lands Initiative! https://westernslopeconservation.org/gunnison-public-lands-initiative/

Feel Free to craft your own unique message, or use one of our example emails below:

1) Dear Wendi Maez, 

I am a Saguache County resident and want to express my support for the Saguache County Wildlife Corridor Resolution. Protecting wildlife corridors is important to me because it promotes biodiversity, wildlife health, and overall ecosystem health. 

Sincerely, YOUR NAME

2) Dear Wendi Maez,

The Saguache County Wildlife Corridor Resolution would work to keep both our human and nonhuman residents safe! Well connected wildlife corridors decrease the likelihood of vehicle and wildlife collisions, and allow animals safe passage. 

Sincerely, YOUR NAME

Send email to: wmaez@saguachecounty-co.gov

Draft Saguache County Resolution

RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT WILDLIFE HABITAT PRESERVATION AND MIGRATION CORRIDORS

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Saguache County, Colorado are concerned with the health safety and welfare of the citizens of Saguache County; and,

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Saguache County, Colorado are concerned about declining populations of wildlife and beneficial insects locally, nationally and globally

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVEDthat the Board of County Commissioners of Saguache County Colorado declare their support for:

1) actions that preserve wildlife habitat in Saguache County on Private lands, Conservation Easements, State and Federal Lands.

2) actions that minimize human impact in areas that are critical to maintain Wildlife populations.

3) actions that maintain or enhance Wildlife Migration Corridors that may cross political and or Managing Agency Boundaries.

4) Work with various Non-Profit, County, State, and Federal Agencies to accomplish the aforementioned goals. 

READ, MOVED and APPROVED this _______ day of August, 2021.

Voted as follows:              Commissioner Tim Lovato: ___                       

                                         Commissioner Lynne Thompson: ___

                                         Commissioner Tom McCracken: ___

_____________________________________                ___________________

Chairman                                                                           Commissioner

________________________________                                  

Commissioner

                                                                                            ATTEST:

                                                                      _______________________________________

                                                                                            Clerk of the Board

Send email to: wmaez@saguachecounty-co.gov

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