But one resilient mountain lion did make it across. 

P-22, a male mountain lion from the Santa Monica range successfully navigated the maze of cars and found himself in Griffith Park in Los Angeles. He lived there for more than 10 years, occupying the smallest home range—roughly eight square miles— that has ever been recorded for an adult male mountain lion. Though he was able to survive, P-22 was never able to find a mate in his limited home range. 

P-22 was euthanized in December of 2022 after officials captured him and discovered injuries from a vehicle collision and other chronic conditions. The life of this tough feline became a rallying cry to raise funds for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing being built over US-101 to restore habitat connectivity. This busy road was one that P-22 had to cross on his way to Griffith Park, and it is the primary cause of genetic isolation—which has led to inbreeding— of the Santa Monica Mountains mountain lion population. 

It is highways like US-101 and other human development paired with natural features like mountain ranges that have separated populations of mountain lions in California into six distinct genetic populations. A few of these populations live in the Central Coast region, spanning the area between San Francisco Bay and Los Angeles, which provides large swaths of habitat for mountain lions and other wildlife. However, this area is becoming increasingly fragmented and isolated from other healthy and more stable populations of these cats in the Sierra Nevada. 

“Preserving and restoring connectivity in this region and reconnecting it across highways like US-101 to the Sierra Nevada is essential to prevent genetic isolation and keep regional ecosystems, like those in the Central California coast—which rely on apex predators to maintain biodiversity—from collapsing,” said Greg Costello, U.S. Connectivity Program Director with the Center for Large Landscape Conservation. 

On February 12, 2026, the California Fish and Game Commission voted to list certain population segments of mountain lions in Southern and Central California as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act. The listing gives protections, among others, to the southern California Central Coast mountain lion Distinct Population Segments (DSP) due to concerns that they could become extinct in the foreseeable future due to fragmented habitat, barriers to movement, and displacement by humans.       

“As development in the area increases, it is urgent to protect threatened mountain lion populations in California to preserve biodiversity in the region and protect local ecosystems,” Costello said. “These big cats need to move to find food and mates, and dense networks of communities and roads can limit their movement, reducing gene flow.” 

California Mountain Lion Populations

CLLC is beginning work with California Department of Fish & Wildlife, California Department of Transportation, Santa Barbara County (and City), San Luis Obispo County, and other partners in California’s Central Coast region to restore connectivity and safeguard mountain lions and other wildlife. 

The Central California Coast Connectivity Project will identify wildlife movement corridors by combining advanced habitat connectivity mapping and modeling. The results will help guide county and municipal governments and land use planners in preserving these important areas, potentially creating a model for use in other parts of the state. CLLC will begin science assessments this fall with a goal of completing the data analysis to present to stakeholders in the region next fall.  

Understanding the habitat needs and movement patterns of these cats, and other wildlife, is the critical first step toward securing the future for diverse and healthy wildlife populations along the Central California Coast. 

Featured image caption: Mountain Lion P-35 captured by a camera trap. Credit: NPS photo

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Grizzly bears are protected as a Threatened species under the Endangered Species Act after mortality from hunting, trapping, poisoning, and habitat fragmentation in the 19^th and early 20^th century, leading to extinction of certain populations. They used to range continuously from Alaska through western Canada, west to the Pacific Coast, east through the Great Plains, and south into central Mexico. They now survive within about 6 percent of their historical range, with populations in the lower 48 states primarily found within Montana, Wyoming, Idaho. 

Grizzly bears are habitat generalists, thriving in nearly every habitat type, provided they can stay safe from human impacts. While their populations in some parts of the Mountain West have been increasing, their reproduction rate is quite slow, and they can be prone to conflict when near human populations, encountering issues with people whether from recreation, agriculture, hunting, food attractants, highways, or railways.

Habitat fragmentation caused by roads and other infrastructure can lead to reduced access to food and water, wildlife-vehicle collisions, limited access to mates leading to potential inbreeding, and more human-wildlife conflict. In addition, the future of grizzly population management is uncertain with recent changes to a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service rule (July 2026).

As this keystone species continues to recover, it is important now more than ever to find ways for humans and grizzlies to coexist in shared landscapes, and one strategy is ensuring habitat connectivity. Ensuring that grizzlies have appropriate movement corridors away from people reduces the likelihood of conflict with humans. 

The Center for Large Landscape Conservation (CLLC) thinks and works on connectivity at local, state, national, and international scales, and here in our Montana-based offices, we are particularly aware of the impacts that more humans on the landscape are creating for grizzlies and other species. We aim to help reduce habitat loss and fragmentation and to keep bears and other animals moving safely through the roads, railways, communities, and similar structures of our human footprint. 

Much of CLLC’s work is focused on helping wildlife move across roadways, working within the science called road ecology or transportation ecology. 

“One of the significant sources of human-caused mortality for grizzlies is wildlife-vehicle collisions,” said Kylie Paul, Road Ecologist with CLLC. “On some highways, the traffic volume is too high for the bears to cross, creating a barrier to movement and cutting them off from accessing habitat and resources like seasonal berry crops or potential mates.” 

Wildlife crossing structures, like overpasses and underpasses, when combined with sufficient fencing, can effectively reduce this mortality and create the opportunity for a reconnected landscape. Research has found that grizzly bears have specific needs when it comes to designing a wildlife crossing structure. 

“Grizzly bear males will use both overpasses and underpasses of varying sizes,” Paul said. “But as is often the case with many wildlife species, females with cubs tend to be wary of potentially risky or unfamiliar circumstances, preferring the more visually open overpasses or open-span bridge underpasses.” 

When staff at CLLC are proposing, advocating for, and helping design wildlife crossings for grizzlies and other species here in Montana, such as at Sixmile Creek near Missoula, on US-191 near Big Sky, and at Dome Mountain outside of Gardiner, we advocate for a design that will work for female grizzlies.

We also use remote cameras and other monitoring methods, along with collision and roadkill data, to understand where grizzly bears and other wildlife are moving, so that crossings are built in the right locations for the target species. 

Many solutions working together will help keep grizzly bears safely on the move and out of trouble. This includes individual measures like putting our trash in bear-resistant containers or carrying bear spray and making noise when we’re recreating throughout the bears’ homelands. And it will require conservation and policy solutions, like wildlife crossings and preserved corridors that help bears move through the landscape safely. 

Learn more about wildlife crossings and our U.S. Connectivity Program 

Top Image: A grizzly bear crosses a road and climbs over a guard rail. Credit: Adobe Stock

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Wildlife crossings are becoming a more widespread solution to reconnect fragmented habitats, keep animals on the move, and keep drivers safe. When looking to build new roads, it is ideal to completely avoid fragmenting habitat, but for existing roads, canopy bridges can be an effective mitigation measure. 

In places like the Amazon rainforest and the country of Costa Rica, these crossings are designed for arboreal species that prefer to move through the treetops such as opossums, sloths, and monkeys. Canopy bridges are a specific type of wildlife crossing solution that bridges the gap in forest canopies created by roads or other barriers.

There are many different designs for these structures, which can consist of anything from a single line of durable material like thick rope to larger, rigid structures made of metal or concrete that can accommodate both arboreal and terrestrial species. Some are also made of recycled materials, such as old fire hoses or old electric cables. These simple designs are relatively inexpensive as compared to other types of wildlife crossing structures and easier to install. 

Canopy bridges have been implemented in many countries worldwide, such as Costa Rica, Brazil, Malaysia, Indonesia, and India. The Center for Large Landscape Conservation is currently working with the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation of Costa Rica to launch a Mitigation Measures Manual for Wildlife Friendly Roads, with funding from the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), which will develop the nation’s first official guidelines to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and minimize the ecological impacts of roads. As part of this project, our team reviewed the existing types of canopy bridges in the country and in other places of the world to synthesize what has been working and identify best practices. 

Below, we outline some of the different types of canopy bridge structures worldwide and provide examples of what types of species they serve.  

Single-Line Aerial Crossings

These are made of a single line of durable material like steel cable or rope. They are placed in areas of partial canopy cover, and the ends are anchored to sturdy trees, ensuring tension and stability.  This design is suitable for a wide range of arboreal species from small rodents and opossums to sloths. Also, it is more applicable to narrow roads due to its limited rigidity over longer spans. 

Two-Line Aerial Crossings

This type of canopy bridge is made with two lines of rope or cable and can be vertical or horizontal. Many arboreal animals with prehensile tails that function like a fifth limb, such as kinkajous, sometimes hold the second line with their tails to increase their balance while crossing. These structures are usually used for short distances of 20 meters or less and are anchored to trees or posts.  

Vertical Ladder-type Aerial Crossings 

Ladder-type canopy bridges have two anchor lines secured to trees or posts with connecting ties between the anchor lines to provide stability and support for the crossing. These are best utilized on roadways less than 30 meters wide.  

Horizontal Ladder-type Aerial Crossings  

This type of crossing features a similar construction as the vertical ladder, but in a horizontal position. Larger arboreal animals that walk with four limbs such as howler monkeys use the ladder steps to move along the canopy bridge, but many smaller animals use only one of the exterior ropes to cross. These crossings can be anchored to trees or posts, as required by connectivity needs, tree types, or the presence of power lines.  

Triangular Aerial Crossings  

These crossings combine a horizontal ladder or net with a single cable at the top, forming a triangle. The bottom part is aimed at providing more stability to the crossing structure, while the upper line is for animals who use their tails for balance. These crossings are typically over 25 meters wide and usually feature two posts located on each side of roadways since they are heavier. When the canopy bridge is not directly fixed in a tree, they should be connected to the canopy by multiple ropes, so animals can access them. 

Rigid Crossings  

Rigid wildlife crossings (see video, below) are elevated structures that can be used by arboreal animals. They are typically comprised of metal or concrete frameworks designed to provide enhanced stability and durability.   

Canopy bridges were first installed in various countries by conservation projects and community-based NGOs, and over the past few decades they have been implemented and monitored through numerous research initiatives. More recently, they are being recognized by transport agencies as an official mitigation measure to reduce the impacts of roads on arboreal animals. In Costa Rica, for example, canopy bridges are being officially installed by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport as part of recent road projects. They are also recognized as a complementary mitigation measure used by electric utility companies in areas where there is a risk of wildlife electrocution, alongside power line insulation and anti-climbing devices. 

Monitoring studies have shown that canopy bridges are used by a wide variety of species, from possums, squirrels, and civets, to larger primates, such as howler monkeys and even orangutans, however, much remains to be learned about what is the best design for each species. More recently, researchers have been comparing different canopy bridge designs by implementing them side by side and comparing the frequency and behavior of species using them. Hopefully this new knowledge will help governments and communities increase the implementation this cost-effective solution for reducing the impact of roads on wildlife. 

_{Top Photo: A brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba) crosses a horizontal ladder canopy bridge over a road in southern Brazil. Credit: Precisa}

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When people think about the Appalachians, they picture mountains. I think about a rich landscape of mountains and valleys woven together by rivers so old that the mountains rose up around them. It’s this mix that creates the sweeping views we love, from the Blue Ridge Parkway to the hills just beyond our back yards. But the Appalachians are so much more than breathtaking scenery. They form the backbone of a region that’s essential for the well-being of people and wildlife alike.

The northern reaches of the Appalachians are home to the largest intact broad-leaf forest in the world. In my neck of the woods in West Virginia, we have high elevation bogs like Cranberry Glades and the Dolly Sods Wilderness, which you won’t find again until you’re all the way up in Canada. You’ll find two of the oldest rivers in the world, the New River and the French Broad River. This unique geography makes the region one of the most ecologically rich places on Earth.

Not surprisingly, we have amazing wildlife, too. Elk, black bears, bobcats, and hellbenders are iconic, but the Appalachians are also a global hotspot for salamanders and freshwater mussels. This landscape is remarkably beautiful and globally significant for its biodiversity.

Animals Are on the Move

Wildlife are on the move across the Appalachians, and this movement is a vital part of functional landscapes that provide all the benefits people rely on, like fish and game to eat, clean water to drink, protection from floods, and the many outdoor recreation opportunities we enjoy.

The Appalachians may not have big game migrations that are as well-known as the pronghorn and mule deer migrations of the West, but we have a diversity of wildlife that must be able to move freely through the landscape throughout their life cycles. Deer move daily between areas where they forage and where they sleep. The spotted salamander wakes from winter dormancy and migrates up to a quarter mile to vernal pools to reproduce. Right now, millions of birds are migrating north through the region on their way to summer breeding grounds, as black bears are emerging from their hibernation and spreading out across the landscape.

Climate change is also forcing animals to move. As the climate changes, habitat is shifting and wildlife are generally moving north or to higher elevations in search of suitable climates. In the eastern U.S., some species ranges have already shifted nearly 30 miles since the 1980s.

The Appalachian Mountains are nature’s highway, allowing wildlife to move and adapt now and into the future.

In order to maintain wildlife movement, we need to conserve large, connected areas of habitat. Protecting expansive landscapes helps ensure there is enough habitat to sustain wildlife throughout every stage of their life cycle, through seasons of drought or extreme storms, and long-term climate change. These areas must be connected in a network that allows animals to move freely in search of food, shelter, and one another.

Where Wildlife and Roads Collide

People are on the move too, and we use roads to do that. Roads are also where our movements collide with animal movements.

Collisions with wildlife are extremely dangerous. Each year in the U.S., 1- 2 million wildlife-vehicle collisions occur resulting in 200 human deaths and 28,000 injuries. In the Appalachians, the risk is especially high. Every state in the region is ranked as high- or medium-risk for collisions and West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Virginia are among the top ten states for wildlife-vehicle collisions.

These wildlife-vehicle collisions are also expensive. The cumulative cost is estimated to be $10 billion dollars in economic impacts. On average, a collision with a deer will have a total cost of $19,000. This includes all costs associated with the collisions, such as medical, vehicle repair, and lost wages paid by the driver, as well as the state paying for carcass removal or first responders. If you hit one of Central Appalachia’s growing elk herd, that will incur an average cost of about $75,000!

Even if you never hit an animal on the road, you will pay as insurance companies pass the high costs of these collisions to their policyholders.

For wildlife, the impacts are just as severe. Roads fragment and disconnect habitats, preventing wildlife from moving freely by serving as a direct barrier if the traffic volume is high enough. Millions of animals are hit by vehicles each year and hundreds of thousands are killed in vehicle collisions. And the impacts are not just to terrestrial species. Poorly designed river and stream crossings, such as undersized culverts under roads, block the movement of fish, salamanders, and other aquatic animals impacting the health of these species across the region.

The Path to Safer, Connected Landscapes

The good news is that lots of work is already being done to implement solutions to increasing fragmentation and loss of connectivity within the Appalachians.

Across the region, states are working to conserve large, connected landscapes and reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. Vermont’s Conservation Design is guiding the state’s efforts to ensure enough of the landscape is conserved to support its wildlife and provide nature’s benefits to its residents. Virginia’s Wildlife Corridor Action Plan is guiding efforts to protect vital wildlife habitat corridors and reduce wildlife-vehicle conflicts.

Wildlife crossing structures such as overpasses and underpasses allow wildlife to move over or under roads, and uninterrupted through streams and rivers. Virginia built its first wildlife crossing structure in 2005 and Pennsylvania has constructed 33 crossings. The structures are effective, reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions by 80 to 97%. These structures can pay for themselves. One project in Virginia upgraded transportation infrastructure to be more wildlife friendly and the investment paid for itself within two years by reducing costly collisions.

Properly designed culverts, ones that mimic natural stream bottoms and allow animals to move through them, are less susceptible to flood damage and debris blockage making culverts and stream crossings more resilient to flooding.

Nine Appalachian states received grants from the Federal Highway Administration’s Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, a five-year, $350-million grant program established in 2021 by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to conduct assessments, develop plans that reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, and build wildlife crossing structures.

The current Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program will end after this year, but bipartisan legislation to permanently authorize this program was introduced in both houses of Congress at the end of last year (H.R. 6078, S. 3503, S. 3556).

Many Appalachian states are considering or have already passed their own landscape connectivity and wildlife corridor legislation to plan for, pay for, and implement landscape conservation. Virginia legislators introduced a bill that would establish tax on data centers and use the revenue for landscape conservation, including implementing the Virginia Wildlife Corridor Action Plan.

There are pathways to conserving and connecting our landscape to ensure wildlife safely move and communities benefit. These pathways will require continued actions at the federal, state, and local levels.

Protecting What Protects Us

The same landscapes that define the Appalachians also sustain the people who call it home. We need to conserve this landscape to help sustain our wildlife, but we also must do it to have cleaner air and water, safer roads, and more resilience to climate change. When we keep Appalachia connected, we’re not just protecting nature, we’re protecting ourselves.

This post originally appeared on the blog of ReImagine Appalachia

Jacob Blandford is the Appalachian Landscape Conservation Coordinator at the Center for Large Landscape Conservation. For nearly a decade, CLLC has advanced solutions for habitat connectivity and conservation in the Appalachian region, championing a large-landscape approach that addresses the entire ecoregion, from Alabama to the eastern Canadian provinces.

_{Top image: Autumn vista in the Appalachian Mountains of western Maryland – Adobe Stock}

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A recent global report delivered a stark warning: 49% of the 1,200+ unique species protected under the Convention on Migratory Species have declining populations, up from 44% two years ago. Confronting this newest evidence that birds, fish, insects, and mammals that cross national borders are increasingly at risk, government and conservation leaders gathered in late March for the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS/CoP-15) in Campo Grande, Brazil.  

These multilateral governmental negotiations, convened under the theme “Connecting Nature to Sustain Life,” reinforced the critical need to conserve the ecological connectivity of our globally shared natural heritage of migratory species. Linking ecosystems, cultures, and economies across country borders and continents, wild species undertake increasingly perilous journeys throughout their lifecycles.

Participants at CoP-15, including the Center for Large Landscape Conservation, demonstrated resolve by adopting commitments to address compounding threats to the survival of migratory species. This included agreeing on new or enhanced international protections for 40 species in danger of extinction such as the cheetah, snowy owl, giant otter, and great hammerhead shark. Read the full list of species here.

Throughout the week, participants also addressed more than 100 agenda items ranging from illegal and unsustainable taking of migratory species to impacts of deep sea mining. By close of CMS/CoP-15, Parties also adopted a diversity of policies to address threats and implement actions with a strengthened focus on ecological connectivity, international cooperation, and expanding partnerships.

Campo Grande provided a fitting backdrop for this meeting of the world’s only international agreement recognizing countries as the stewards of migratory species living within or passing through their national jurisdictions. As the capital of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul in southwestern Brazil, it is the southern gateway to the Pantanal—the world’s largest tropical wetland—at the intersection of Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. This landscape supports more than 1,000 bird, 300 mammal, 500 reptile, 400 fish, and thousands of invertebrate species. It is one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth and a powerful example of the importance of connected, functional ecosystems and why the work of the Convention on Migratory Species matters so much.

High-level Commitment for Wildlife 

An ambitious tone was set at the preceding High Level Segment chaired by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva who was joined by the President of Paraguay, ministers, and other stakeholders. Together, these country representatives adopted the Pantanal Declaration “Promoting Connectivity to Protect Migratory Wildlife.” It highlights the need to maintain, enhance, and restore ecological connectivity; include measures to prevent negative impacts on migration routes in economic development strategies; and use available resources to support developing countries to more effectively conserve migratory wildlife.  

The importance of the Convention and key role of ecological connectivity was highlighted by President Lula:   

“The Convention on Migratory Species conveys a simple but powerful message: migration is natural. By crossing continents and connecting distant ecosystems, these species show that nature does not recognize the limits between States. The jaguar moves across nearly all preserved territories of the Americas in search of safe areas to hunt and reproduce. Like it, every year, millions of birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, and even insects cross continents and oceans. These journeys connect ecosystems, preserve natural cycles, and ensure the balance that makes life possible. Protecting these animals means protecting life itself on the planet. The survival of these species depends on collective action.”  

During his address, President Lula also announced Brazil’s newest conservation commitments including the creation of a the new Córregos dos Vales do Norte de Minas Gerais Reserve, and significant expansions of Pantanal National Park and Taiamã Ecological Station, together representing approximately 145,000 hectares (559 square miles) of newly protected lands. 

CLLC’s Ongoing Leadership 

Joining more than 2,000 attendees, including delegates from 105 of the 133 country “Parties” to the Convention on Migratory Species, the Center for Large Landscape Conservation was represented by three team members: Katie Deuel (Chief Program Officer), Aaron Laur (Manager, International Connectivity Program), and Fernanda Teixeira (Linear Infrastructure Ecology Advisor).  

As an official NGO Observer to CMS, the Center continued advancing the aims of the convention by emphasizing the fundamental importance of conserving ecological connectivity to more efficiently and effectively achieve the great diversity of international treaty agreements for conserving nature. In preparations and over the course of the conference, the team contributed expertise and worked with partners to showcase innovative collaboration for maintaining, enhancing, and restoring ecological connectivity to conserve migratory species.  

Over the course of the conference, Katie, Aaron, and Fernanda followed negotiations, shared expertise through presentations, and participated in official events especially promoting leading joint efforts focused on conserving migratory species, their habitats, and migration routes. Aaron, who also serves as Co-Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group (CCSG), represented the World Commission on Protected Areas as part of IUCN’s official delegation throughout the negotiations and associated events. 

Official Side Events Promoting Collaboration 

Among the nearly 60 official side events held in Campo Grande, CLLC was proud to lead co-organization of the event “Nature Positive Infrastructure – Avoiding and mitigating impacts of linear infrastructure on migratory species and ecological connectivity” with numerous partners. Participants learned about new and expanded initiatives around the world building capacity and mobilizing resources to mainstream biodiversity conservation into infrastructure policy, planning, investment, and development. 

Additionally, the Center contributed to back-to-back events emphasizing the growing, collaborative action that is being scaled up by the Global Partnership on Ecological Connectivity (GPEC) titled “Ecological Connectivity: A Cross-Cutting Solution for Achieving Multiple Environmental and Socio-Economic Priorities” and “From Partnerships to Practice: Advancing ecological connectivity action on the ground”.

Toward the end of the conference, Aaron was moderator for the event Bridging the gap: Leveraging animal movement and mapped migration corridors to inform national conservation policy” that provided insights into how movement data, with a focus on migration, can be better integrated into conservation planning and policy.

Renewed Policies for Connectivity and Addressing Impacts of Infrastructure 

As part of formal negotiations, Parties considered a raft of background documents, reaching consensus by the last day to adopt new and updated policy resolutions and decisions about a diversity of issues and topics. Specific to the Center’s mission, the Resolution on “Ecological Connectivity” advances previous related commitments urging Parties to identify, strengthen, and expand ecological networks and corridors to conserve migratory species, and for the CMS Secretariat to support their establishment and management.

Additionally, the “Resolution on Impact Assessment and Migratory Species” advances commitments that migratory species, their habitats, and ecological connectivity “[…] be given high priority in biodiversity-related aspects of environmental impact assessment”  

Looking Ahead  

João Paulo Ribeiro Capobianco, in his role as President of CMS/CoP-15, and as Executive Secretary at the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, made the closing speech, including the following statement: 

“From the Pantanal to the Arctic, from the oceans to the savannas, migratory species connect our planet in ways no political map ever could. They remind us that ecological integrity depends on continuity of flows that must remain alive, uninterrupted, and resilient. And this is precisely what is at stake. Connectivity is not an abstract concept. It is the difference between survival and collapse. Between ecosystems that function and those that fail. To protect migratory routes, ecological corridors, and critical habitats is to protect the very fabric of life on Earth.” 

The outcomes of CMS/CoP-15 represent meaningful and durable progress in the global effort to conserve ecological connectivity for migratory species and the ecosystems they depend upon. For the Center, CMS/CoP-15 reaffirmed that bringing high quality science, field experience, partnerships and networks, and technical expertise to negotiations and side events shapes innovative and actionable decisions. We look forward to building on these outcomes in the months ahead, in collaboration with our many valued partners.  

Additional information: 

• IISD – Earth Negotiations Bulletin with full, daily, detailed coverage including photos 

• WWF – CMS COP15 delivers progress for migratory species, including jaguars, sharks, marine turtles, and birds  

• Mongabay – Migratory species summit adopts new marine protections amid extinction warnings 

_{*Photo of presenters, left to right: Fernanda Abra (President, Reconecta Institute); Fernanda Teixeira (Linear Infrastructure Ecology Advisor, Center for Large Landscape Conservation); Tremaine Gregory (Senior Scientist, Sustainable Infrastructure Team, WWF-US); Steffen Mumme (Spatial Ecologist, Global Initiative on Ungulate Migration); Ruth Tiffer Sotomayor (Senior Environmental Specialist, Global Environment Department, The World Bank); Aaron Laur (Manager, International Connectivity Program, Center for Large Landscape Conservation); Kate Newman (Vice President, Sustainable Infrastructure and Public Sector Initiatives, WWF-US); Duncan Lang (Principal Environment Specialist, Nature and Environment Division, Asian Development Bank); and Katie Deuel (Chief Program Officer, Center for Large Landscape Conservation).}

_{Top image: The Jabiru stork (Jabiru mycteria), locally known as the tuiuiú, is a symbol of the Pantanal in Brazil. Adobe Stock photo.}

The post Moving the Needle for Ecological Connectivity and Migratory Species appeared first on Center for Large Landscape Conservation.

We set off early, dressed for a hot, half-day drive along Brazil Federal Highway 262 (BR-262). The busy road passes through the tropical savanna of the Cerrado biome and into a corner of the Pantanal biome, the world’s largest tropical wetland, which spans parts of Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay.   

Known worldwide as an ecotourism destination for its rich biodiversity, the Pantanal biome (a biome is a landscape-scale region delineated by its unique ecology, including climate, plants and animals), is home to many of Brazil’s quirky—to this North American—and elegant, iconic species. They include the feathery tailed, gentle-looking giant anteater, the stub-nosed, water-loving capybara (the world’s largest rodent!), and the tapir, a three toed ungulate with an elongated snout that is most closely related to the rhinoceros.

However, wildlife habitat in and around this vast, tropical landscape is gradually shrinking as land is cleared for production of some of the country’s biggest exports such as beef and soybeans.  

And wildlife movement is increasingly hampered by highways. 

Our CLLC team of three had recently arrived at Campo Grande, Brazil, from our distant homes in mountain towns of Montana and the beach town of Florianopolis, Brazil, in advance of the Convention on Migratory Species’ CoP-15. This international gathering of leaders aimed to address urgent conservation challenges facing migratory species, and this was our side trip to see some of these challenges first-hand. 

“I expected to get out of the car a few times to look at wildlife crossing structures with their new fencing and maybe a road-killed animal or two. But what we actually saw was deeply disturbing: an unfolding pantheon of animals that I had only dreamed of glimpsing in the wild in my lifetime, but laid out on the road, killed by vehicles.” 

Our team consisted of Fernanda Teixeira, Linear Infrastructure Program Advisor; Aaron Laur, International Connectivity Program Manager; and myself, Chief Program Officer. We arrived well into our own mental journeys of understanding the deep challenges of, and increasing opportunities to address, the impacts to wildlife of linear transport infrastructure like roads, railways, canals and powerlines. We were especially eager to experience the Pantanal and surrounding area, location of a multi-year project we have engaged in to identify and conserve jaguar movement corridors, and to travel on BR-262 through a corner of the biome. 

The “Highway of Death”

BR-262 is known as the “highway of death” for its high rates of wildlife mortality caused by vehicle strikes. In just one year, 2,263 animal carcasses were recorded on this stretch of road. Several factors converge to create this deadly effect. The road runs through a biodiversity hotspot filled with species that aren’t adapted to running from predators, such as the anteaters that sit down when threatened, ready to attack with the long sharp digging claws instead of fleeing. This particular highway is a heavily used transport route for large ore trucks from active regional mines that are unlikely to brake for wildlife. During our journey we saw many, many of these trucks traveling at high speeds on BR-262. 

To address this deadly combination, conservationists have been working for years with Brazil’s government to put in place effective signage for motorists and fencing and underpasses designed for wildlife. We came to look at how the implementation of these mitigation measures was progressing and if it was helping. 

I expected to get out of the car a few times to look at wildlife crossing structures with their new fencing and maybe a road-killed animal or two. But what we actually saw was deeply disturbing: an unfolding pantheon of animals that I had only dreamed of glimpsing in the wild in my lifetime, but laid out on the road, killed by vehicles.  

I confess that I have rarely taken the time to pull over and examine roadkill, though I do occasionally keep a running tally of the animals I see as I travel high-speed highways notorious for wildlife-vehicle collisions in my home state of Montana. What I learned on that narrow, 60-mile-per-hour speed limit road in the humid heat of Brazil’s western Cerrado/eastern Pantanal region was this: There is something extraordinarily intimate—infused with wonder, both satisfying and horrifying to my intense curiosity, and deeply, deeply sad about examining a dead animal that has been killed by human intrusion to its native home.  

Standing over the animals was, for me, a moment out of time, as I considered exquisite ears, odd-shaped mouths, noses, feet, hooves, claws, and hides evolved so perfectly for exactly the role they play in their home ecosystems. But these ecosystems they had originally adapted for did not include roads. 

For the record, and because we were all keeping a tally that day on Highway 262, we observed: five armadillos (there are several kinds), three capybaras, two crab-eating foxes, two giant anteaters, two southern tamandua (arboreal anteaters), an alligator, and a South American tapir. It took us all day, cost us sunburns and heartache and dehydration, but we could not go any faster and still both truly experience what was happening and honor the animals laid out along the road. 

Signs of Hope

On balance, we did also observe progress towards de-fragmenting the landscape through mitigation measures prompted by years of research, advocacy, and cooperation across entities. Roadside fences are going up, there are new underpasses in place, and we found a new sign designed to both capture drivers’ attention and encourage them to slow down. While there were many existing signs with written warnings, this new sign was tested with citizens and is thought to be more attention-grabbing and effective in reducing speed (see photo, above).   

I am a scientist and a conservationist, a mother, and a consumer of food and energy, a citizen of planet Earth. I am not new to the grief of seeing an area that was once wildlife habitat become a place of danger riddled with barriers to movement. I have spent my life recognizing and working to reverse the impacts of the human footprint on the natural world that ultimately sustains us all. 

I am proud to work at CLLC, with colleagues like Fernanda and Aaron, where we strive to ensure that these animals in Brazil and species all over the world can live safely in their natural environments, that they have room and safe passages to move in the face of climate change, habitat impacts, and fragmentation. Much of our work happens off the roads—analyzing habitat and wildlife movement data, creating the conditions that drive conservation, working with communities to find solutions, and consulting with those designing crossings—but it is important to also see first-hand the impacts of human infrastructure. Sadly, BR-262 is not unique. The same problems are occurring all over the world and it is essential that solutions are scaled up for widespread implementation. 

One of the many ways we are doing this is through our leadership in the Latin American and Caribbean Transport Working Group, Asian Elephant Transport Working Group, and the IUCN WCPA Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group, as well as providing consultation to governments—such as Costa Rica—on how to make wildlife-friendly roads and other linear infrastructure the norm. CLLC is committed, with the help of partners and supporters, to conserving ecological connectivity and safe passage for wildlife in landscapes throughout the world.

Katie Deuel is the Chief Program Officer at the Center for Large Landscape Conservation. She works across our diverse programs to ensure they are strategic, effective, inclusive, connected and supported.  She has been a leader in biodiversity and large landscape conservation, nature-based education, and building sustainable, circular economies, as well as working extensively as a facilitator and mediator in complex systems. At the center of her work is a passion for systems thinking, cold water, and empowering people. She lives with her family in Missoula and enjoys time outside in most any form.

_{All photos by CLLC}

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The Trifinio-Fraternidad Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (TFTBR) is a land of steep mountains covered by dense tropical forest, home to iconic species such as quetzal and puma, small cities and rural villages, and a thriving coffee-growing economy. Spanning parts of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, the TFTBR is a model in transboundary environmental governance, established primarily to safeguard vital water sources that originate in the mountains and flow to major population centers in all three countries.

In 2025, the Center for Large Landscape Conservation worked with UNESCO and partners in the TFTBR on the project “Scaling up Connectivity in the Trifinio-Fraternidad Biosphere Reserve.” 

“We aimed to strengthen ecological connectivity and landscape resilience by combining science, local knowledge, and community priorities,” said Gabriel Oppler, International Connectivity Specialist at CLLC. “It also enabled cross-border cooperation for biodiversity conservation and sustainable land use in one of Central America’s most vital ecosystems.”

Oppler helped facilitate these workshops and visited reserves and national parks to better understand the landscape’s priorities and challenges. Reconvening for a trinational workshop in November, Oppler was joined by CLLC’s Linear Infrastructure Ecology Advisor Fernanda Teixeira. Participants worked together to prioritize ecological corridors—connections between habitat that allow animals to move and other ecological processes to flow—and identify specific land management actions in each corridor.

Production of corridor maps combining science, local knowledge, and community priorities

In between workshops, UNESCO and its scientific team at the University of Heidelberg and CLLC used stakeholder feedback to generate different structural connectivity models for the biosphere reserve. These models indicate areas which are likely to be easiest for wildlife to move across the landscape. The models integrate satellite imagery and around 30 datasets on factors like urban development, linear infrastructure like roads, or agricultural zones.

“The modelling involved determining the path of least resistance for species movement between the core areas of the TFTBR, nearby protected areas and other biosphere reserves, assuming that species move more freely across intact habitats like forests and other types of vegetation than across more modified lands,” explained Oppler.

The way forward: implementation of ecological corridors at scale in the biosphere reserve

In only eight months, this project laid the foundations for the implementation of ecological corridors by involving a wide range of actors, institutions, and stakeholders engaged in the TFTBR across the three countries. The products developed include:

• Definition of a shared vision for ecological connectivity, including key focal species, conservation values and challenges to guide corridor planning.
• 2025 land-use and land-cover map (validated on the ground) covering the TFTBR and surrounding areas to support planning and analysis.
• Structural connectivity models and maps using LinkageMapper and Omniscape to support connectivity planning.
• Co-constructed corridor prioritization framework to guide priority conservation actions to be implemented in the coming years.
• Multi-level connectivity funding plan based on sustainable development and biodiversity conservation initiatives.
• A set of indicators measuring the current state of ecological corridors to allow monitoring of changes over time.

The project has also produced colorful and informative materials to engage local communities, including a 14-page brochure and poster, as well as videos such as the one below.

Building on this momentum, UNESCO and its partners will move forward in the coming year with a larger-scale initiative to turn collaboration into actions, supporting ecological restoration, protecting biodiversity and creating durable economic opportunities for communities in and around the Biosphere Reserve.

This project was funded by the Kunming Biodiversity Fund (KBF) and Spain’s Autonomous Agency for National Parks (OAPN).

Check out this video, which features CLLC International Connectivity Specialist Gabriel Oppler and CLLC Linear Infrastructure Ecology Advisor Fernanda Teixeira talking about the project:

_{Top photo: Within the biosphere reserve and adjacent to Montecristo National Park in El Salvador, many producers grow coffee under the shade of banana trees and other tall trees, resulting in more flavorful coffee beans. Credit: CLLC/Gabriel Oppler}

Yellowstone National Park in the western United States is a crucial landscape populated by iconic species like bison, wolves, grizzly bears, elk and pronghorn that are part of the largest concentration of wildlife in the lower 48 states. Kafue National Park in Zambia is, similarly, a stronghold of biodiversity and hosts elephants, lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, and antelope, which all roam the vast landscape. 

Despite being thousands of miles apart, Kafue and Yellowstone share similar challenges: major roadways cut through critical habitat and impact wildlife movement. Growing traffic volume, speed, and through-traffic intensify these impacts, increasing the risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions, impacting movement patterns and fragmenting vital wildlife corridors. As a result, animals are often forced to cross dangerous roads to access food, water, and seasonal ranges—putting both wildlife and people at risk. 

CLLC has completed highway assessments alongside our partners in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE)—encompassing Yellowstone National Park and surrounding public and private lands in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho—and Kafue National Park to better understand the impact of these roads on wildlife and what we can do to mitigate those impacts. 

In 2021, a team of scientists including CLLC staff members conducted the US-191/MT-64 Wildlife & Transportation Assessment, gathering local and expert knowledge, public data, citizen science, and engineering expertise to identify 11 priority sites where mitigation measures—such as culverts, bridges, underpasses, overpasses, animal detection systems, and fencing—can improve the safety of roads for travelers and wildlife. 

“In some places, the topography lends itself better to an overpass versus an underpass,” said Elizabeth Fairbank, road ecologist with the Center. “There’s lots of recommendations for things like bridge retrofits or reconstructing a bridge at the end of its lifespan with a much larger structure, and that can benefit not only terrestrial wildlife, but also river and stream health.”  

Fairbank says that a crossing structure with fencing is the gold standard to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions by 80 to 90 percent while still maintaining habitat connectivity for wildlife but they’re not appropriate or feasible everywhere due to engineering or financial constraints or if the species of concern does not easily use crossing structures. 

In the GYE, many of the iconic species that live in the park are wide-ranging and make use of public and private lands around the park, crossing roads like US-191 and navigating other human infrastructure like fencing to do so. 

“Migratory species, like elk, are having to cross busy highways in the GYE seasonally, every year,” Fairbank said. “It’s a major issue impacting their ability to reach the resources that they need like food, water, shelter and mates to survive.” 

Elk that have been struck by vehicles are an all-too-common sight on US-191, something that CLLC is trying to change with efforts to advance crossings in an elk collision hotspot—one of the priority sites identified in the assessment. The assessment has led directly to tangible plans to build a wildlife overpass and underpass at this location. 

In Kafue National Park, the M9 highway that bisects the park presents a similar barrier to wildlife looking for water, food and mates. CLLC staff members traveled to Zambia in April 2024 to launch a comprehensive assessment of the highway in the park with the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP) and Greater Kafue Landscape Ltd. (GKLL), a joint venture of Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DWNP) and African Parks (AP). 

The project’s aim was to understand exactly where and how the M9 is putting wildlife at risk. For example, the assessment data showed that wildlife-vehicle collisions and wildlife activity are concentrated where the road passes by water sources.  

“It’s important to keep track of the road’s negative impacts on the wildlife populations, and to be able to provide concrete, science-backed recommendations for how to reduce those impacts for both wildlife and people,” said Dr. Catherine Sun, Senior Quantitative Ecologist with the ZCP who worked on the project. 

According to Fernanda Teixeira, Linear Infrastructure Ecology Advisor with CLLC, the methodology for this assessment was very similar to that of the assessment completed in the GYE. Using a combination of citizen science, wildlife surveys, roadkill data and collaring, many layers of data were combined to pinpoint priority sites along the M9 where mitigation actions should be designed and implemented.  

Some of the immediate priorities identified include speed reduction and control backed by the presence of law enforcement. Some longer-term actions include relocating water sources formed during construction activities away from the road and restricting nighttime truck traffic. If these measures are introduced, they will have the potential to reduce wildlife mortality, enhance wildlife movement and improve road safety.

“Kafue is a huge national park with lots of important species like elephants, lions, cheetahs, and wild dogs,” Teixeira said. “But, the reality is, persistence of the wildlife populations in the region is not guaranteed because these animals are being killed on a road within the park.” 

The Zambian government has long known that the M9 has had an impact on Kafue wildlife populations. The new report helped them to narrow down where to implement speed reduction measures on the M9 to have the most impact. While this alone will not prevent collisions, it is a good first step in a longer-term effort. 

“This study has been an incredible project, and we are hoping to continue monitoring roadkill on the M9 with a systematic approach,” Sun said. “Long-term monitoring reveals a wealth about how wildlife persists on the landscape, sometimes in relatively wild habitat but also in places with increasing human impact. Being able to track the patterns and responses of wildlife through time is critical to providing effective conservation.” 

CLLC will continue working in both locales on future monitoring efforts to assess the effectiveness of mitigation measures that have been implemented and support the establishment of more crossings to provide safe passage for people and wildlife alike. 

_{Top photo: African wild dogs in the road, Kafue National Park – Credit: Zambian Carnivore Programme}

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Gary guided CLLC for 18 years with a vision grounded in science, drawing upon more than 25 years of experience working on large-scale conservation efforts in Africa, Australia, Canada, and South America, and more than 12 years within the U.S. environmental philanthropic community.  

“Gary is a founding father of connectivity conservation, and he has made an enormously significant, irreplaceable contribution to its theory and practice.” 

Bob Debus 
Chair, The Great Eastern Ranges Initiative
(Australia) 

He grew CLLC from an organization of two employees to an interdisciplinary team of nearly 30 scientists, policy experts, and changemakers. CLLC started out as an organization focused on the western US, but now we have projects and impacts that span the globe.  

But our gratitude to Gary runs even deeper than our own organization—in the years since CLLC’s founding, Gary has become renowned as a global leader in large landscape conservation and ecological connectivity. He supported Australian conservationist Graeme Worboys to establish the foundations of the Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group (CCSG) under the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) and was appointed its first official chair in 2016. For nine years he led coordination of its membership that has grown to more than 1,300 experts in over 135 countries. In this pivotal role he had a remarkable impact mainstreaming connectivity conservation science, policy, and practice, such as securing its inclusion in numerous international guidelines, goals, and agreements.  

 “Gary Tabor has made major contributions to the WCPA, particularly through his leadership of the Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group, where he elevated the importance of connectivity and mobilized the global conservation community. He has built a strong conservation legacy and will continue to influence connectivity conservation in important ways.” 

~ Dr. Madhu Rao 
Chair, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas 

A dynamic and engaging presenter, Gary has generously shared his expertise and passion for connectivity conservation with professionals worldwide, accepting invitations to speak to countless groups and gatherings on almost every continent. In his roles as professor, conservation fellow, and advisor at several universities, Gary has mentored many early-career conservationists and educated graduate students on the emerging field of connectivity conservation. And somehow in his “spare time” he co-authored more than 100 scientific papers and reports. 

Through all of these endeavors he has profoundly inspired and prepared the next generation of conservationists to think holistically by preserving those critical places in between protected areas, understanding that people only thrive when we have healthy wildlife and ecosystems. 

 “As Chair, Gary truly shaped the direction of the IUCN WCPA Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group, bringing a remarkable perspective supported by great effort, dedication, and hard work. He opened pathways for new careers and consistently encouraged and supported younger colleagues. Together with the CCSG team and under the Center for Large Landscape Conservation’s umbrella, he set a strong foundation for future opportunities in this field.” 

Dr. Ancuta Fedorca  
National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry Marin Dracea, Head of Wildlife Molecular Genetics Laboratory and Action Chair GENOA 
(Romania) 

While we think of the Center for Large Landscape Conservation as Gary’s crowning achievement, he has also left his mark on many other organizations and places. His conservation achievements include the establishment of Kibale National Park in Uganda; establishment of the World Bank’s Mgahinga/Bwindi/Impenetrable Mountain Gorilla Conservation Trust; co-founding the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative; pioneering the field of Conservation Medicine; co-founding Patagonia Company’s Freedom to Roam wildlife corridor campaign; and co-founding the Network for Landscape Conservation. 

“Gary has helped reshape how connectivity conservation is understood across the world. What was once a niche topic has now become mainstream — not only in academic circles, but also in conservation policy and practice.” 

Dr. Marcelo Gonçalves de Lima  
Director, Biodiversity Without Borders 
Conservation Research Fellow, CLLC 
(United Kingdom)

While we bid a fond farewell to Gary, we know our work to reconnect our fragmented natural world will continue to be informed, inspired, and propelled forward by his lasting legacy. 

The post Honoring a Visionary: Celebrating Gary Tabor’s Conservation Legacy appeared first on Center for Large Landscape Conservation.

This growing recognition that connecting protected areas is key to stemming biodiversity loss has been fueled in large part by dedicated professionals collaborating in the Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group (CCSG). The CCSG was established in 2016 under the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) CCSG’s mission to serve as the global hub providing scientific, policy, and technical advice that mainstreams connectivity conservation as a nature-based solution to enhance the integrity of protected areas, save biodiversity, and increase resilience to climate change across all lands and waters.

While international in scope, composed of 1200+ volunteer members from 125+ countries, much of the CCSG’s day-to-day coordination is conducted from the offices of the Center for Large Landscape Conservation (CLLC) based in Bozeman and Missoula, Montana, in the United States.

CLLC has served this role as the “Secretariat” of CCSG since its inception, acting as the group’s central administration and providing crucial coordination, communication, and logistical support to the growing network of volunteer connectivity conservation experts around the world. Staff members also play leading roles in the Specialist Group and its working groups.

Connectivity Conservation Leadership

Center for Large Landscape Conservation founder and CEO Gary Tabor was the CCSG’s first Chair and has served for the last eight years with Deputy Chair Jodi Hilty, President and Chief Scientist at the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. Both Tabor and Hilty recently reached the leadership term limit allowed by WCPA and are passing the torch to three new Co-chairs.

“I am proud to have inspired and supported the ambitions of this wonderful, growing community,” Tabor said in a message to the CCSG membership.  “And now, as I leave and take on the new sage role of Senior Advisor, I congratulate you all on our numerous achievements and look forward to seeing our new cohort of leaders continue to build upon them.”

WCPA Chair Madhu Rao has selected three new co-chairs: Aaron Laur from the Center for Large Landscape Conservation in Bozeman, Montana, USA; Jordan Reeves from the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, also in Bozeman; and Zhicong Zhao from the Institute for National Parks at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.

CLLC’s Laur assumes the role of Co-chair after nearly 20 years of experience in international conservation that has always had a focus on contributing to and advancing the mission of IUCN.

When asked about his hopes for the future as he steps into the role of Co-chair, Laur said, “I look forward to working with fellow Co-Chairs to build on the outstanding example set by IUCN’s and CCSG’s pioneering leadership fostering innovation, collaboration, and a dedicated community that has inspired a fully-fledged worldwide movement for connectivity conservation. Together, CCSG will seize the momentum it has generated in science, policy, and practice to support each other and partners around the world to more efficiently and effectively conserve nature at large, connected scales.”  

The Co-chairs will now lead CCSG into its next, exciting chapter. They will govern the group membership, guide its strategic direction, foster inclusivity and collaboration, and continue supporting the development of knowledge products, tools, and policy advice. Leadership will also include representing the Specialist Group across IUCN and coordinating members for local to global gatherings, including the World Conservation Congress.

CCSG’s Global Impact

CCSG is one of IUCN WCPA’s most active Specialist Groups. Thanks to its dedicated members, connectivity conservation has moved from an outlier to the mainstream of conservation. Among many collaborative activities, its efforts are the basis for Canada’s National Program for Ecological Corridors, Asian Elephant range states prioritizing connectivity and wildlife-friendly linear infrastructure, and establishment of the Global Partnership on Ecological Connectivity.

Furthermore, thanks to the leadership of this group, connectivity is now embedded in several global conservation agreements, including the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) for 2030 and beyond.

Developing Conservation Tools and Guidance

CCSG Members have produced dozens of peer-reviewed papers, technical reports, and guidance documents to help inform and guide connectivity conservation worldwide. Among the largest collaborative efforts are IUCN’s groundbreaking Guidelines for conserving connectivity through ecological networks and corridors and Technical Report Addressing ecological connectivity in the development of roads, railways and canals.

Behind the scenes, CLLC staff members Laur and Gabriel Oppler have shepherded many of these publications from concept through completion by editing, facilitating reviews, overseeing photos and layout, and navigating all official manuscripts through the IUCN approval processes.

Key to making the work of the CCSG available to all, its website features ongoing projects and activities along with a sizable resource library and digests synthesizing the latest news, science, and policy surrounding connectivity conservation.

What’s ahead for CCSG

Recent adoption of IUCN Resolution WCC-2025-Res-126, Recognising and Reporting Ecological Corridors, provides a strong mandate for CCSG and its working groups to lead coordination and collaboration over the next four years. Priorities will include advocating for an authoritative international definition and frameworks to delineate and manage ecological corridors; applying the IUCN Connectivity Guidelines globally to strengthen consistent corridor design, governance, monitoring, and implementation; launching the World Database on Ecological Corridors to improve tracking and reporting; and encouraging sustained funding and investment for long-term corridor conservation.

CCSG will also continue implementing IUCN Resolution WCC 2020 Res 071, Wildlife-friendly linear infrastructure, to address fragmentation caused by transport infrastructure through cross-sector collaboration. In parallel, the group will contribute to preparations for CMS CoP-15 (2026 in Brazil), CBD CoP-17 (2026 in Armenia), and the World Protected and Conserved Areas Congress (2027 in Panama).

Top photo: CCSG Outgoing Deputy Chair Jodi Hilty (far left) and Outgoing Chair Gary Tabor (second from right) with the team from CLLC in Romania in 2019. (credit: CLLC)

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