Conservation Corridor Digests
USDA’s new framework for migratory big game conservation
The Migratory Big Game Framework aims to coordinate USDA resources in order to protect habitat and connectivity, reduce barriers to movement, and improve habitat quality for elk, pronghorn, mule deer, and more.
Connectivity and climate impact wildlife disease in cities
A multi-city study of urban coyotes shows how connectivity and climate change can interact to shape the distribution of wildlife disease.
Targeting conservation lands for better connectivity
A new approach shows how incorporating connectivity into large-scale programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program could help prioritize lands for key ecosystems and create more connected habitat networks.
Are marine protected areas as effective as they seem?
A global analysis of shallow reef MPAs suggests that less than 2% of global oceans may be protected by ecologically effective MPAs, falling short of the global goal of 30% by 2030.
World’s largest dam removal leads to rapid fish recolonization
The removal of four dams along the Klamath River in Oregon enabled Chinook salmon to rapidly recolonize nearly 90% of their historical range.
How do stakeholders map connectivity?
An analysis of stakeholder perspectives across a protected area network in France reveals how mapping ecological connectivity requires balancing scientific rigor with practical considerations.
Balancing biodiversity and carbon conservation in 30×30
A global analysis shows that conservation strategies can simultaneously advance biodiversity and carbon goals, but may come with trade-offs for connectivity.
Landscape quality drives ecological responses to habitat loss and fragmentation
A large-scale experiment of cactus bugs in central Florida underscores how the quality of the surrounding landscape can have outsized effects on habitat patches.
Butterflies reveal a global connectivity challenge
A global analysis of more than 1,700 butterfly species reveals widespread climate-driven range shifts, highlighting the importance of connected landscapes that allow species to adapt.
Climate warming disrupts connectivity for terrestrial vertebrates
A global assessment projects that nearly 80% of the world's land area will experience reduced climate connectivity under future warming.
Reviewing four decades of fragmentation metrics
A review of fragmentation metrics since 1990 shows how methodologies have shifted over time, and what work still needs to be done to ensure transferable and ecologically grounded research.
Ramsar Convention’s Fifth Strategic Plan incorporates ecological connectivity
The Ramsar Convention is a decades-old international treaty that was recently updated to incorporate ecological connectivity as a core component of global wetland conservation.
Accelerating wetland loss threatens coastal connectivity
Nearly four decades of satellite data reveal that accelerating tidal wetland loss is reshaping coastal connectivity, highlighting the need for adaptation strategies that consider both long-term climate change and acute extreme weather events.
Planning connected protected areas for 30×30
A new predictive framework helps conservation planners identify where protected areas can most effectively strengthen ecological connectivity while advancing global 30x30 conservation goals.
State-by-state connectivity policy guide: Utah
Utah's recent initiatives solidify the state’s status as a national leader on habitat connectivity and wildlife crossings policy, particularly for migratory animals.
Rethinking the economic costs of forest protection for 30×30
A new analysis shows that protecting connected forests to meet 30x30 goals may cost far less than previously thought, as global market responses can offset reduced timber production.
High-quality matrices support bird diversity in forest fragments
Global data from forest islands and forest fragments show that improving tree cover and landscape connectivity around small forest fragments can dramatically increase bird diversity and reduce local extinctions.
Plant range shifts can help diversity but not prevent global extinctions
Climate-driven plant migrations can help maintain biodiversity, but new research shows that protecting climate refugia and connected landscapes will be essential because species movement alone cannot prevent many future plant extinctions.
Habitat fragmentation reduces amphibian defense against disease
Surveys of four frog and toad species in Brazil's Atlantic Forest show that individuals in disconnected habitats are less likely to have protective skin bacteria that defend against the deadly chytrid fungus.
Appalachian Mountains: policies to keep iconic species connected
The Appalachian Mountains are a connected landscape that supports both wildlife and communities, and recent policies can help keep it connected for safer roads, healthier ecosystems, and a more resilient future.
Social implications of 30×30
A global analysis of the 30×30 conservation target shows that expanding well-connected protected areas could affect billions of people, highlighting the need for equitable, locally led conservation.
New book released on regional landscape conservation planning
Regional Landscape Conservation Planning synthesizes conservation science and spatial planning approaches to show how landscape connectivity can support biodiversity, ecosystem resilience, and sustainable land-use policy at regional scales.
Climate models often miss the pace of range shifts
A global assessment of more than 3,500 terrestrial and marine species shows that while observed range shifts often follow the predicted direction, species frequently move much faster than climate models anticipate.
EcoCon: new mapping tool for smarter corridor conservation
The EcoCon, developed through the UF Center for Landscape Conservation Planning and the GeoPlan Center, provides a template for how to bring diverse datasets together into a cohesive tool that supports connectivity conservation at scale.
Mapping coral connectivity for smarter restoration
A decade of multi-species modeling shows how climate change shapes coral connectivity, helping managers prioritize reefs that can accelerate recovery and strengthen resilience across entire reef networks.