The Center for Large Landscape Conservation announces the publication of a journal article presenting guidance on preventing another global pandemic through conservation. Co-authored by a multidisciplinary team of experts including the Center’s President Gary Tabor, the article makes a case that preventing future pandemics may come down to ecological solutions, not medical ones.
The earth is made up of many large landscapes and seascapes that support animal life. But 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 habitat isolates and weakens animal populations and puts them at greater risk of extinction. It is more essential now than ever that we preserve or restore corridors—or connections between natural areas—before it’s too late.
Mamie Parker didn’t set out to be a groundbreaker in her field. She simply had a fascination with nature. As a young girl growing up in Wilmot, Arkansas, she had a love of fishing and was drawn to the outdoors, inspired largely by her mother—an avid angler and outdoorswoman. Her curiosity eventually expanded to biology when a high-school teacher sparked her interest in environmental degradation.
As we deal with the economic and health fallout of COVID-19, and look to rebuild our economy and future, the smartest recovery plans will include measures to conserve wildlife habitat connectivity. Projects designed to connect habitat—such as wildlife crossing structures that span roads and highways—not only create healthier and safer landscapes and communities; they also create local jobs, bolster domestic manufacturing, provide a boost to the outdoor recreation industry, and stimulate ecological restoration economies.
Climate change doesn’t only affect the health of planet Earth; it also affects the health and wellbeing of every person, family, and community who calls Earth home. Conditions like extreme heatwaves, smoke from wildfires, and unexpected weather events pose increased risks of illness or injury. In a new report published by the Montana University System, scientists, physicians, and other experts aim to identify these risks and recommend actions for creating a healthier future.
Following release of the first-ever IUCN ‘Guidelines for Conserving Connectivity through Ecological Networks and Corridors’ in July 2020, the Center for Large Landscape Conservation today announces publication of the official French translation of this groundbreaking document. The Center’s global leadership contributed to the creation of the guidelines, a milestone achievement for the protection of the Earth’s ecological connectivity—the unimpeded movement of species and the flow of natural processes that sustain life.
Every 26 seconds—or less—a driver hits an animal, making highways one of the greatest barriers to wildlife movement in the United States. In addition to killing 1-2 million large animals every year, these collisions cause 200 human fatalities and more than 26,000 injuries, at a cost to Americans of more than $8 billion annually.
The Infrastructure and Ecology Network Europe (IENE) recently held its postponed International Conference LIFE LINES – Linear Infrastructure Networks with Ecological Solutions, bringing together experts in transportation, infrastructure, and ecology, including staff from the Center. The event focused on advancing initiatives that increase awareness, collaboration, and action for more sustainable linear infrastructure—such as roads, railways, and canals—that safeguards nature.
While people throughout the United States—and across the globe—have emerged from a major pandemic, we continue to face another grave threat: climate change. One only needs to pick up a newspaper or turn on the television to learn of the most recent natural disaster to devastate a community, from forest fires and extreme drought to hurricanes and floods. Changes in weather, temperatures, and precipitation are simultaneously impacting how we live and how we plan for the future.
The North American Congress for Conservation Biology (NACCB) has released its official policy declaration titled Advance Ecological Connectivity Implementation in the Rocky Mountains and North America. CLLC is proud to have supported the drafting of this innovative call to action and now looks forward to promoting its implementation.
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