About As the United States Policy Director for Wildlands Network, Erin Sito researches, develops and promotes laws and policies geared towards supporting habitat connectivity and biodiversity at the local, state, and federal level. Erin’s work also focuses on state agency reform and funding, and outreach to promote Wildlands Network’s policy initiatives nationwide. Episode 129 Rewilding Earth Podcast: Advancing Wildlife Connectivity with Erin Sito of Wildlands Network In this episode of the Rewilding Earth podcast, Erin Sito, the U.S. Public Policy Director for Wildlands Network, discusses her role and efforts in rewilding North America. She shares progress in state and federal policies supporting connected habitats, noting advancements in wildlife crossings and the significant support these initiatives have received across different presidential administrations. Erin highlights the creation of the federal grant program for wildlife crossing infrastructure and discusses the increase in public involvement through innovative technologies like the ROADS app. She addresses challenges, such as funding needs and the cultural shift within transportation agencies to consider wildlife in planning. Erin emphasizes the importance of state-level actions, praising states like New York, which recently passed wildlife crossing legislation, and outlines her vision for creating more interconnected, climate-resilient landscapes. 00:00 Introduction 00:13 Erin’s Role and Background 01:31 Progress in Connectivity and Crossings Policy 02:24 Legislative Efforts and Success Stories 04:21 Federal Funding and State Legislation 07:31 Challenges and Future Goals 17:41 Public Involvement and Innovative Technologies 28:36 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Extra Credit The federal bill we discussed during the interview has now been introduced. Check it out here. Check out the Wildlands Network’s State of the States Report – which lists all the state habitat connectivity legislation passed over the past 25 years. The report also highlights some of the catalyzing events discussed in this episode, like the passing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the creation of unprecedented federal funding for crossings and conservation. * All the federal transportation funding programs now available for crossings Here are some resources that folks can turn to help track roadkill. We recommend checking in with your local state DOT, to see if they have an app they prefer community members use.