Nature Undivided: Reconnecting Our Fragmented Natural World

A Planetary Health Crisis

More than half the earth is developed, causing widespread fragmentation and disruption of the natural processes that sustain life on the planet.

Roads, railways, fences, and urbanization make it difficult for wildlife to move to migrate or to find food, water, and mates. Human health, species survival, and the ability of nature to withstand the impacts of climate change are all at risk.

The scale of the problem is vast—and it requires a large-scale solution.

Nature Undivided

The Center for Large Landscape Conservation is the hub of a growing global movement to reverse the fragmentation of the earth’s landscapes and restore nature’s resilience to climate change.

Embracing a vision of “nature undivided,” we network and collaborate with experts, practitioners, and local communities. The work of landscape conservation restores human connection while restoring the natural pathways of life.

Our Approach

We develop science, craft policy, and support planning for land use by a network of partners across six continents. Our combination of expertise and experience enables us to address a host of environmental challenges and deploy proven solutions that can be scaled and adapted for diverse locations. The Center engages in four ways:

Science

We lead science and research projects to address on-the-ground needs, from helping planners track and analyze wildlife movement to assisting communities in identifying and protecting vital landscapes.

Policy

We promote policies and laws that advance connectivity conservation by drafting legislation, provisions, and standards to advance corridors and ecological networks and guide their implementation.

Networks

Reconnecting landscapes starts with connecting people. We build networks that bring diverse groups to the table and facilitate collaboration in an effort to break down silos and promote knowledge-sharing.

On-the-ground Implementation

We work with communities to achieve their conservation goals—from knowledge exchange and training to developing guidelines and technical reports.

News and Updates

Promoting Guidelines to Reduce Harm to Asian Elephants from Roads and Railways

Earlier this year, a baby Asian elephant died after being hit by a truck on Gerik-Jeli Highway, in Peninsular Malaysia. In distress, his mother stood by for hours and had to be tranquilized in order to be moved from the area. This heartbreaking event, which happened on Mother’s Day, was a sad reminder of the conflict between human development and wildlife survival. To address this problem and prevent future tragedies, the Center for Large Landscape Conservation (CLLC) has been co-organizing workshops with partners to promote actionable solutions in the 13 countries where Asian elephants still live in the wild.

What Are Large Landscapes?

The earth is a tapestry of interconnected large landscapes and seascapes that support the natural processes that maintain our climate, support animal and plant life, and determine the quality of our air, water, and food. Parks and other protected areas alone are not enough to sustain healthy wildlife populations in the face of a changing climate and increasing human development.

Fragmented landscapes isolate and weaken animal populations and disrupt the natural cycles we rely on for food, healthy forests, and rivers. Our diverse cultures are rooted in our relationship to the places we live, and those change too, as the world changes around us.

Explore the world of large landscape conservation through Globescapes.

Explore Globescapes

Why Connectivity Matters

Nature’s Connective Tissue

If we don’t keep our natural areas connected to each other, we will continue to lose biodiversity and healthy ecosystem processes that are key to our health and survival. This video by Jamie Rojo reveals how connectivity works and why it matters.

Watch Video

Get Involved

Our work has never been more urgent, and we’re inspired by the incredible human resilience we see in communities and partners who are committed to restoring our natural world. Connect with our staff to learn more about how you can get involved.

Connect with us

Nature Undivided: Reconnecting Our Fragmented Natural World

A Planetary Health Crisis

Nature Undivided