2022 CCSG Highlights

The Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group (CCSG) grew to 1300+ members in 125+ countries by the close of 2022. Highlights of the year included:

Supporting efforts and outcomes to elevate ecological connectivity in the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including:
- Goal A includes ecological connectivity as a fundamental requirement for the functionality of ecosystems;
- Target 2 operationalizes ecological connectivity as part of maximizing the benefits and outcomes of restoration for entire landscapes and seascapes;
- Target 3 highlights that ecological connectivity helps to achieve the 30×30 target; and
- Target 12 supports maintaining and designing for ecological connectivity in urban/high intensity agricultural areas;
and its measurement in the Monitoring Framework using a variety of indicators:
- Re Goal A: CMS Connectivity Indicator, Dendritic Connectivity Index, Ecosystem Intactness Index, Forest Fragmentation Index, PARC-Connectedness, Protected Connected (ProtConn) Index, Relative Magnitude of Fragmentation, River Fragmentation Index, and Trends in mangrove forest fragmentation; Re Target 2: Maintenance and restoration of connectivity of natural ecosystems; and Re Target 3: PARC-Connectedness, Connectivity Indicator (in development), Protected Area Isolation Index (PAI), and Protected Areas Network Metric (ProNet).
Making an official submission to the CBD/CoP-15 website entitled ‘Ecological Connectivity Indicators for Measuring Progress Towards the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework’. This report of expert and CBD Party consultations includes the key recommendation that a headline indicator be included as part of the Post-2020 GBF monitoring framework as follows: Status and trends in ecological connectivity: structural, functional, and migratory connectivity across terrestrial, coastal/marine, and inland aquatic ecosystems.
Participating at the 2nd Asia Parks Congress in Malaysia in May 2022, including supporting organization and outcomes under Working Group 3 “Connectivity & Transboundary Conservation” and agreement on the Kota Kinabalu Declaration containing:
- Commitments to maintaining and restoring fragmented ecosystems and avoiding or mitigating the impacts of new infrastructure and environmentally destructive activities;
- Establishing and restoring ecological connectivity through networks of protected and conserved areas; and
- Securing natural habitat and improving connectivity of protected areas to maintain viable populations of critically endangered species.
Participating at the 1st IUCN Africa Protected Areas Congress in Rwanda in July 2022, especially contributing to Stream 1 “Promoting Effective and Well-managed Networks of PCAs in Africa” and Cross-cutting Theme 6 on “Infrastructure and Biodiversity”, as well as coordination of recommendations and drafting among colleagues and institutions culminating in the Kigali Call to Action for People and Nature that includes “Restoring fragmented and degraded ecosystems and avoiding or mitigating the impacts of climate change, new infrastructure and environmentally destructive activities, thereby maintaining ecological connectivity through networks of protected and conserved areas, including OECMs and transboundary areas.”
Translation of the ‘IUCN Guidelines for conserving connectivity through ecological networks and corridors’ into Korean and Mongolian.
Contributing toward conceptualization and formation of Parks Canada’s new National Program for Ecological Corridors based on the definitions of “ecological connectivity”, “ecological corridors”, and “ecological networks” provided in the 2020 IUCN Connectivity Guidelines. The program is now undertaking collaborative approaches for the development of national criteria for the identification of corridors and supporting pilot projects.
Contributing to the first meeting of the “CMS Intersessional Working Group on Linear Infrastructure” in Germany. With over 50 participants attending from around the world, the meeting assisted the Convention on Migratory Species Secretariat to develop a set of 29 recommendations for Parties, the CMS Scientific Council, and Secretariat to better address the impacts of infrastructure on migratory species. The recommendations are expected to be advanced by the Scientific Council for official adoption.
Serving as focal point to contribute to, and monitor implementation of, IUCN Policy Resolutions “Ecological connectivity from local to international levels” and 071 “Wildlife-friendly infrastructure”.
Co-leading the Wildlife Connect Initiative with WWF-International working in four pilot landscapes: Carpathians, Central India, Pantanal-Chaco (PACHA), and Southern Kenya-Northern Tanzania (SOKNOT), including an official launch at a side event during UNFCCC/CoP-27 in November 2022.
Advancing region- and species-specific connectivity conservation through:
- The Marine Connectivity Working Group (MCWG), which presented the Marine Connectivity Conservation ‘Rules of Thumb’ for MPA and MPA Network Design in four key marine/coastal scientific and policy-related fora;
- The Asian Elephant Transport Working Group (AsETWG), which contributed toward formulation of commitments by the 3rd Meeting of Asian Elephant Range States to promote wildlife-friendly infrastructure; and
- The Latin American and Caribbean Transport Working Group (LACTWG) which supported a 250-participant “Bolivian Workshop on Wildlife Crossings” producing 50 conclusions and recommendations.

State	Year	Policy	Description
New Hampshire	2026	SB592	Enables regional, conservation, and energy resource planning for habitat strongholds and wildlife corridors
New Hampshire	2019	SB200	Requires the New Hampshire Department of Transportation to consider fish and wildlife crossings and mitigation measures in all future road and culvert projects
New Hampshire	2016	SB376	Requires the fish and game department to identify existing and needed wildlife corridors connecting wildlife habitats in the state and to make recommendations for legislative changes

State	Year	Policy	Description
Maine	2023	LD258	Appropriates $7.5 million to Department of Transportation to improve roadways with potential adaptations for wildlife
Maine	2023	LD1881	Establishes compensation fee program relating to fish and wildlife habitats and associated corridors, including compensation paid by solar energy development
Maine	2023	LD508	Requires Department of Environmental Protection to review its permitting laws concerning climate change, habitat connectivity, ecological resilience, and coastal environments

State	Year	Policy	Description
New Jersey	2025	S3618	Directs state agencies to develop a Wildlife Corridor Action Plan
New Jersey	2024	S3916/A5486	Expands eligibility for existing wildlife fencing programs by including farmers leasing farmland
New Jersey	2007	NJAC7:13	Requires the state to incorporate wildlife crossings or a natural bank for terrestrial threatened and endangered species and/or species of concern when a new bridge or culvert project would cause habitat fragmentation

State	Year	Policy	Description
New Mexico	2023	SB72	Appropriates money to new Wildlife Corridors Fund for implementation of wildlife crossing projects under New Mexico Wildlife Corridor Action Plan
New Mexico	2022	HB 2	Allocates funding for projects to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and allows the Department of Transportation and Department of Game to implement their Wildlife Corridors Action Plan
New Mexico	2019	SB 228	Requires the creation of a Wildlife Corridor Action Plan that includes comprehensive guidance to agencies for identifying, prioritizing and maintaining important areas for wildlife movement

State	Year	Policy	Description
Washington	2023	HB1216/SB5196	Requires Department of Ecology to prepare environmental impact statements for clean energy projects that consider impacts to habitat connectivity and wildlife migration corridors
Washington	2022	SB5689	Provides funding for US 97 Wildlife Crossing Improvements project
Washington	2019	SEO 1031.02	Recognizes the effect of roadways in creating barriers to wildlife movement, breeding, and migrations; the Washington State Department of Transportation will promote and support Practical Solutions and Planning and Environmental Linkages to integrate habitat connectivity and biodiversity plans; will make use of the highway prioritization map known as Habitat Connectivity Investment Priorities; and will corporate and coordinate with other agencies involved in wildlife habitat protection, specifically along highways

Connecting Science to Conservation

About the Author: IUCN CCSG

State	Year	Policy	Description
Wyoming	2026	SF0052	Allocates funds for restoration of aquatic habitats including barrier removal for fish
Wyoming	2025	SF0088	Allocates funds for projects improving wildlife connectivity including fence removal, wildlife crossings improvements, and habitat restoration
Wyoming	2024	SF0060	Provides funds to help maintain primary migration corridors for ungulates in the Little Snake River Conservation District
Wyoming	2023	SF0106	Provides funds for large wildlife crossing projects across the state
Wyoming	2022	SF0048	Approves funding for specific wildlife crossings and aquatic connectivity initiatives
Wyoming	2021	SF066	Provides funds for large wildlife crossing projects across the state
Wyoming	2020	EO 1	Designates three mule deer migration corridors and establishes the process whereby future corridors can be designated
Wyoming	2020	HB 69	Establishes a system wherein funding from outdoor recreation can be appropriated for wildlife conservation efforts related to the state’s transportation system
Wyoming	2018	HB39	Proceeds from the newly established wildlife conservation license plates are allocated to wildlife connectivity improvements to the state transportation system

State	Year	Policy	Description
Vermont	2023	Act59	Vermont's 30x30 law that commits to conserving and maintaining an ecologically functional landscape that sustains biodiversity and maintains landscape connectivity
Vermont	2016	Act 171	Primarily focuses on timber harvesting regulations, but calls for a study of necessary revisions to planning statutes that protect contiguous areas of forestland from fragmentation and promote habitat connectivity between forestlands

State	Year	Policy	Description
Colorado	2026	SB141	Creates optional collision prevention fee to fund wildlife safe passage projects
Colorado	2025	HB1093	Restricts local limits on residential density unless offset elsewhere, exempts areas near wildlife crossings, and allows municipalities to seek judicial review of land use initiatives
Colorado	2023	SB 23-092	Encourages minimal impacts to wildlife migration corridors when constructing solar panel farms
Colorado	2023	SB 214	Appropriates funding to the Colorado Wildlife Safe Passages Fund for wildlife crossing projects
Colorado	2022	SB22-151	Creates a $5 million fund for measures that reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and reconnect habitat fragmented by roads
Colorado	2022	HB22-1072	Expands the scope of Habitat Partnership Program to fund efforts to conserve wildlife migration
Colorado	2021	SJR 21-021	Aims to protect and enhance habitat connectivity in the state through the establishment of a working group to develop state policies on corridors, as well as the commission of a report on state corridors and voluntary policies to support willing landowners in improving connectivity
Colorado	2019	EO 11	Directs Colorado agencies to identify policy, regulatory, and legislative opportunities to ensure the ongoing conservation of seasonal big game habitat and migration corridors
Colorado	2018	SB 18-143	States explicit goals for Division of Parks and Wildlife to invest in habitat conservation and wildlife crossings

State	Year	Policy	Description
California	2026	SB1250	Requires the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to include wildlife connectivity corridors and needs into its infrastructure project planning
California	2024	AB1889	Requires counties and municipalities to conserve wildlife corridors when planning new developments
California	2023	AB1760	Calls for a statewide analysis of wildlife corridors and connectivity to support conservation planning and climate change adaptation activities.
California	2023	SB145	Outlines provisions for transportation-related environmental mitigation, including funding for wildlife corridors, property and credit purchases for mitigation, reporting requirements, and mandates for wildlife crossings along Interstate 15.
California	2023	SB101	Provides funding for wildlife corridors and open spaces, including projects to improve connectivity and reduce barriers between habitat areas.
California	2022	AB2344	Establishes a state program to address roads with high wildlife-vehicle collisions, authorizes Caltrans to develop standalone wildlife connectivity projects, mandates an inventory and prioritization system for critical areas, and requires integration of wildlife passage features into relevant road designs.
California	2022	AB1384	Requires agencies to address vulnerabilities in Safeguarding California Plans, including protecting and enhancing wildlife corridors
California	2021	SB790	Approves compensatory mitigation credits for wildlife connectivity actions
California	2021	AB1183	Establishes the California Desert Conservation Program to protect biodiversity, including the protection and enhancement of habitat connectivity
California	2021	AB128	Appropriates funding for wildlife crossing projects, including the Liberty Canyon crossing for mountain lions
California	2015	AB 498	Amends the California Fish and Game Code to encourage, wherever feasible, voluntary steps to protect the functioning of wildlife corridors
California	2014	AB1471	Provides funds to the Sacramento- San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, in part to protect and restore aquatic, wetland, and migratory bird ecosystems including corridors.
California	2008	AB2785	Orders Dept. of Fish & Wildlife to investigate, study, and identify key wildlife corridors and linkages within the state, and to make those areas public