Learn how Vital Ground is integrating climate resiliency and wildlife connectivity considerations into conservation efforts, and what other land trusts can do to adopt more climate and connectivity friendly approaches into their work.
Located in southeast Turkmenistan, on the border with Uzbekistan and close to Afghanistan, the Mountain Ecosystems of Koytendag (MEK) are one of the most distinctive landscapes in Central Asia. The region extends from the hot, dry, semi-desert plains of the Amu Darya River Valley to the snow-capped peaks of Ayrybaba, rising to 3,137 meters (10,292 feet) as the highest mountain in Turkmenistan. Covering a combined area of over 100,000 hectares, the ecosystem hosts rare species such as Urial sheep, lynx, and markhor, and is important habitat for pistachio and juniper forests. Recently, experts from this area and around the country gathered to discuss how to conserve this extraordinary natural area, including how to ensure its habitat areas remain connected.
More than 20 speakers and nearly 200 attendees made history last week as participants in the first-of-its-kind gathering to share knowledge for making transportation infrastructure more sustainable across Asia. As many countries in the region expand their networks of roads, rails, and other modes of transportation, such development can provide vast economic and social benefits but also present challenges to nature conservation and local communities. Therefore, on December 16-17, 2021, the 1st Asia Transportation Ecology Forum was held to explore how this development is already impacting ecosystems—affecting species from butterflies to elephants—and how science-based solutions can be applied to conserve Asia’s rich biodiversity.
This publication shares the Roundtable on the Crown of the Continent’s stories and lessons from its work to build a support network to help communities work together to adapt to climate change.
In 2018, The O’Komi Survey interviewed 657 individuals, posing a total of up to 126 questions related to land use, conservation, policy and leadership, and food. What follows are some key takeaways from the survey results, organized by theme.
When lynx, elephants, markhors, bears or elk move in search of water or food, they don’t stop to show their passports at the border or pause to consider which areas are protected; wildlife goes where it needs to survive. In this special feature article for the 2024 Annual Report, interviews with Center staff illuminate the challenges and opportunities associated with several of our current efforts to reconnect landscapes that straddle international borders.
Marking an important step to safeguard both people and wildlife, the bipartisan infrastructure package that the U.S. Congress passed late Friday includes $350 million to construct wildlife road crossings. These structures reconnect important habitat and allow animals to pass safely over or under roadways, avoiding traffic. The legislation also makes projects to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions eligible for funding in other transportation programs. The provisions in this legislation will help safeguard biodiversity while stimulating the U.S. economy, mitigating climate impacts, and reducing highway fatalities.
This publication highlights the impacts that LTI has on Asian elephants and their habitats, addresses existing frameworks for reducing elephant-transport conflicts, provides seven case studies and a focus on emerging technologies, and makes general recommendations for inspiring urgent and practical actions. https://doi.org/10.53847/VYWN4174
The U.S. Forest Service’s 2012 planning rule requires National Forests to evaluate, protect, and/or restore ecological connectivity when revising land management plans. This document describes an approach for considering connectivity in forest planning that was developed for the Custer Gallatin National Forest and relies on freely available data to address the planning rule requirements. The
This publication is the result of collaboration among experts around the world and provides guidance for integrating connectivity into the planning and management of marine protected areas (MPAs). The 13 ‘Rules of Thumb’ are intended to support more consistent efforts by MPA managers and marine conservation professionals to implement connectivity conservation and measure progress towards