MS SB2750

Mississippi urges the Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and Department of Marine Resources to conduct a two-year study to quantify the economic value of the state's natural resources, including ecosystem goods and services, with findings due to the Legislature by June 30, 2020.

Study shall assess ecosystem services including marine ecosystems, forests, urban green space, beaches, agricultural land, and riparian buffers, as well as ecosystem goods such as water resources, minerals, agricultural products, wildlife, timber, and fish harvest.

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Transportation, shall identify existing and needed wildlife corridors (including riparian corridors and transportation crossings) and audit statutes, rules, and regulations affecting wildlife corridors.

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks executive director shall file a report with findings and recommendations to the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate by June 30, 2020.

Legislature declares that habitat connectivity and wildlife corridors are public goods vital to biodiversity, ecosystem health, and wildlife resilience to climate change and habitat fragmentation.