Subcommittee approves transfer of technical guidance program to biodiversity division

The subcommittee on Public Safety, Natural Resources and Transportation on March 20 recommended transferring the Department of Wildlifes Technical Guidance Program from the Habitat Division to the Biodiversity Division, approving associated funding and one existing position.

Nicolette Johnston, LCB fiscal analyst, said the governor recommended moving the technical guidance program, which provides information on state species and habitats for land management agencies conducting environmental analyses, to the Biodiversity Division. The department told the subcommittee that the Biodiversity Division oversees 695 of Nevada's 897 documented wildlife species and that 367 of those species are listed as species of greatest conservation need under the State of Nevada Wildlife Action Plan.

Johnston said the transfer included total funding of $592,214 over the 2025-2027 biennium and one existing wildlife staff specialist position. The department said the Habitat Division's three regional biologists were at maximum workload capacity, reviewing over 600 projects per year and conducting habitat restoration and mine surveys; the Biodiversity Division has ten biologists who could provide specialist support.

Chair Watts moved to recommend approval of the transfer and associated funding; the motion was seconded by Senator Wynne and carried unanimously. Fiscal staff closed a contingent technical adjustment related to the transfer and authorized staff to make other technical adjustments as necessary.

The transfer is intended to centralize technical expertise within biodiversity staff to enhance species oversight and to relieve overloaded regional habitat biologists.