Efforts to meet the global 30×30 target, formalized under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, increasingly emphasize not just the amount of land protected but how well those lands are connected. Landscape connectivity allows species to move, maintain genetic diversity, and track shifting climates, making it central to long-term conservation success.
However, political borders often fragment conservation planning, even when ecosystems and wildlife movements extend across them. Nowhere is this more relevant than along the Canada–United States border, the longest terrestrial boundary in the world, where coordinated strategies are essential for sustaining biodiversity. As nations work toward 30×30 goals, understanding and maintaining transboundary connectivity is emerging as a key challenge and opportunity.
O’Brien, P., Tapper, S., Brown, M.G.C., Brennan, A., Mubareka, S., Pither, R., and Bowman, J. 2026. Evaluating transboundary connectivity to support cross-border conservation between Canada and the United States. FACETS, 11: 1-14. DOI: 10.1139/facets-2025-0156
A new study addresses that need by developing a high-resolution, binational map of ecological connectivity to guide cross-border conservation. Researchers extended an existing Canadian connectivity model into the United States to create a seamless, 300-meter resolution map of “current density,” a measure of the probability of animal movement across landscapes.
Using a naturalness-based approach, they assigned movement costs to different land cover types, with human-modified areas posing greater resistance. Circuit theory modeling then identified multiple potential pathways for wildlife movement without assuming fixed start or end points. The resulting map highlights key corridors and pinch points where movement is concentrated, particularly along mountain ranges and around major barriers such as the Great Lakes.
Across the transboundary region, the study found that only about 19% of the highest-value connectivity hotspots fall within strictly protected areas, though this increases to almost 50% when broader conservation lands are included. Indigenous-managed lands contribute additional coverage, underscoring their importance in maintaining connectivity.
The model also aligned closely with real-world wildlife movement: GPS data from elk showed strong overlap between predicted corridors and actual cross-border movement patterns. The results also showed that areas of high connectivity may also correspond to increased risk of wildlife disease spread, as shown by spatial associations with SARS-CoV-2 detections in white-tailed deer.
The research highlights both progress and gaps in conserving connectivity across one of the world’s most important transboundary landscapes. While existing protected areas capture many key corridors, a substantial portion remains unprotected, particularly in regions shaped by intense development. The study also shows that generalized, multispecies connectivity models can effectively inform diverse applications, from corridor design to disease surveillance.
As countries pursue 30×30 targets, this work reinforces that conservation cannot stop at political borders. Maintaining and restoring transboundary corridors will be essential for enabling species movement under climate change, supporting ecosystem resilience, and coordinating binational conservation efforts. High-resolution connectivity maps like this one provide a practical foundation for aligning policies and ensuring that protected areas function not as isolated patches, but as part of an interconnected network that sustains biodiversity at continental scales.
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