New website for assessing and planning for connectivity

Heather Cayton2016-10-14T10:11:02-04:00August 28th, 2013|Digests|

Maintaining and restoring wildlife connectivity is a major ecological concern for conservation practitioners and natural resource managers. The science and practice of assessing habitat connectivity is a rapidly evolving field, making it challenging for conservation planners and resource managers to readily incorporate connectivity considerations into their activities. In collaboration with other connectivity researchers, NatureServe recently developed and released Connecting Landscapes (www.connectinglandscapes.org/), a website providing step-by-step guidance for new practitioners on how to approach the technical tasks of assessing and planning for connectivity. The guidance describes how to conduct each step, and summarizes the skills and expertise needed, outcomes, and useful examples or case studies relevant to each step. It references current modeling tools and provides additional links to case studies and other relevant publications.

About the Author: Heather Cayton

Heather Cayton is the Managing Director of Conservation Corridor and a Research Assistant at Michigan State University. She received her B.S. from the University of Virginia and her M.S. from Virginia Tech, and has spent over a decade studying corridors and rare butterflies in North Carolina.

New Hampshire

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

Maine

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

Massachusetts

State	Year	Policy	Description
Massachusetts	2022	H.5151	Directs the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to evaluate potential wildlife crossing projects throughout the state and publish findings by the end of the year

New Jersey

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

New Mexico

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
Idaho	2026	SCR124	Funds the development and implementation of wildlife crossings

Washington

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

Wyoming

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

Vermont

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

Nevada

State	Year	Policy	Description
Nevada	2025	AB486	Requires additional wildlife-related reporting when developing transportation projects in the state
Nevada	2023	AB112	Requires the Nevada Department of Transportation and the Nevada Department of Wildlife to construct wildlife crossings in specific areas
Nevada	2021	EO 18	Requires the establishment of a Habitat Conservation Framework; in support of this goal, the Nevada Department of Wildlife will develop a statewide connectivity plan and collaborate with the Nevada Department of Transportation on the implementation of the plan
Nevada	2021	AB211	Requires developers to consider impacts on wildlife and their habitats when making development plans

Virginia

State	Year	Policy	Description
Virginia	2026	HB597	Establishes Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund to support wildlife corridors and wildlife crossing infrastructure projects
Virginia	2024	HB309	Requires development of a Forest Conservation Plan, with highest priority given to areas adjacent to wildlife corridors or large contiguous blocks of forest
Virginia	2021	SB 1274	Directs state agencies to incorporate, where applicable, wildlife corridors and other recommendations made in the state Wildlife Corridor Action Plan; and directs the Department of Wildlife Resources to incorporate wildlife corridors and recommendations of the Plan when developing any governmental strategic plan, map or action
Virginia	2020	SB 1004/HB 1695	Calls for the identification of wildlife corridors and existing or planned threats to wildlife movement, and for recommendations of priority areas for corridor projects
Virginia	2020	SB1004	Directs state agencies to create a Wildlife Corridor Action Plan that would identify barriers to wildlife movement, prioritize and recommend wildlife crossing projects, and create a map that highlights high-priority areas for wildlife corridor infrastructure

Utah

State	Year	Policy	Description
Utah	2026	HB0431	Provides funding for wildlife connectivity and livestock protection projects
Utah	2022	HB 427	Requires the Utah Department of Transportation to include an analysis of wildlife and livestock mitigation measures in their annual report on the status of state transportation systems
Utah	2022	HB3	Provides funding to construct wildlife crossing over Interstate 84
Utah	2020	HCR 13	Urges continued state investment in wildlife connectivity, encouraging state and local agencies to adopt policies that protect and restore intact fish and wildlife connectivity, migration corridors and promote road safety

Pennsylvania

State	Year	Policy	Description
Pennsylvania	2023	HR87	Requires state government to study and issue report on current status, management and benefits of conservation corridors in the state

Oregon

State	Year	Policy	Description
Oregon	2026	HB4134	Increases state lodging tax to support wildlife conservation measures such as migratory waterfowl conservation
Oregon	2025	HB2978	Expands collaboration between state agencies for wildlife crossing efforts and requires them to incorporate wildlife vehicle collision guidance into highway design
Oregon	2022	HB 5202	Allocates funding for projects that reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity, and for projects to remove barriers that support fish passage through the state’s rivers and streams
Oregon	2019	HB 2834	Directs agencies to develop a Wildlife Corridor Action Plan to preserve long-term habitat connectivity for wildlife, and requires the state Department of Transportation to establish a program to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions

State	Year	Policy	Description
North Carolina	2023	HB259	Provides money to build highway crossings to improve highway safety and wildlife connectivity

State	Year	Policy	Description
Minnesota	2023	HF2310	Provides funds to enhance habitat connectivity within and between urban parks and the Mississippi River Flyway

State	Year	Policy	Description
Montana	2025	HB855/HB932	Establishes the state’s first dedicated funding streams for wildlife crossings

Maryland

State	Year	Policy	Description
Maryland	2025	HB 731/SB 635	Establishes Maryland Connectivity Coalition, strengthens oversight of wildlife crossings, and requires habitat connectivity to be considered in transportation and land use planning
Maryland	2024	HB22/SB178	Requires State Highway Administration to include policies and procedures for pollinator corridors along state highways

Colorado

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

California

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

Florida

State	Year	Policy	Description
Florida	2024	SB1638	Dedicates annual funding to land purchases, conservation easements, and trail maintenance within Florida Wildlife Corridor
Florida	2023	HB1379	Creates annual appropriation to acquire lands that complete certain linkages and are under high population stress within Florida Wildlife Corridor
Florida	2023	SB2500 sec.146	Provides funding to buy Ocala to Osceola (“O2O”) Wildlife Corridor
Florida	2021	SB976	Tasks state agencies with maintaining wildlife connectivity and designates Florida Wildlife Corridor as an existing physical, geographically defined area
Florida	2021	SB2500	Appropriates $300 million to acquire lands to conserve Florida Wildlife Corridor
Florida	2019	SB7068	Creates a "Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance Program" that includes protection of wildlife corridors as an intended benefit
Florida	2008	SB542	Amends Florida Forever Act statues to include goals of connecting linkage corridors
Florida	2001	SB1468	Amends Florida Forever Act to establish that land acquisitions should include complete landscape linkages and corridors
Florida	1999	S908	Creates Florida Forever Program, with increased protection of lands that protect threatened or endangered species and plans to create a statewide system of connected landscape linkages

Alabama

State	Year	Policy	Description
Alabama	2016	SB54	Tasks the Alabama Trails Commission with creating a statewide system of interconnected landscape linkages, conservation corridors, and other recreation-focused corridors