Las Vegas Sun

April 20, 2024

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

State must protect wildlife

I implore the Legislature to vote for Assembly Bill 211. We are living in an era of unprecedented extinction. Now is the time to be bold and consider what legacy we are leaving for our fellow Nevadans. Nevada’s iconic wildlife and open spaces have made it a great place for people and wildlife to call home. Unfortunately, as more development occurs, the impact on wildlife is causing irreversible damage to the environment. It is essential for a healthy environment to have species biodiversity.

Urban sprawl, inadequate funding for the Nevada Department of Wildlife, and unbalanced corporate industry (such as beef) have led to plummeting numbers of species, including apex predators. AB211 could prevent irreversible damage by discouraging the fragmenting of wildlife habitat, which has been proven to severely hurt air and water quality.

During the pandemic, land and wildlife have become even more important for families seeking solace in the outdoors. The affirmation of the connection between land health and our communities’ health cannot be clearer. This will be the first step toward encouraging developers to avoid impacts to wildlife and habitat, and make progress to protect wildlife and open spaces.