Connectivity metrics for protected area networks
A comparison of 17 different metrics used to assess progress toward protected area goals reveals how useful it can be to keep it simple.
Heather Cayton2024-02-23T10:45:09-05:00February 15th, 2024|Climate Change, Digests|
A comparison of 17 different metrics used to assess progress toward protected area goals reveals how useful it can be to keep it simple.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 2026 | SCR124 | Funds the development and implementation of wildlife crossings |
| 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 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |