| Education/Communication/Raising awareness | CCSG is advancing IUCN Guidelines for conserving connectivity:
Building on the 1st ground testing of the IUCN Guidelines: Carpathian Bioregion in 2019, deployment of the Guidelines continues to be refined and is included in specific project that CCSG is engaged in, including:
-“Connectivity, Capacity, and Cats: Building Resiliency in the Mountain Ecosystems of Koytendag, Turkmenistan” with the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund; and
-The “Wildlife Connect” initiative with WWF-International working in four pilot landscapes: Carpathians, Central India, Pantanal-Chaco (PACHA), and Southern Kenya-Northern Tanzania (SOKNOT);
Also, CCSG is contributing toward conceptualization and formation of Parks Canada’s new National Program for Ecological Corridors based on the definitions of “ecological connectivity”, “ecological corridors”, and “ecological networks”, provided in the 2020 IUCN Connectivity Guidelines. The program is now undertaking collaborative approaches for the development of national criteria for the identification of corridors, and supporting pilot projects. | On-going |
| Other | The Marine Connectivity Working Group (MCWG) of the CCSG continues to promote the science, policy, and practice of marine connectivity conservation. MCWG published and presented Marine Connectivity Conservation ‘Rules of Thumb’ for MPA and MPA Network Design in four key marine/coastal scientific and policy-related fora, and now is working towards building relationships with specific MPAs to implement these Rules of Thumb.
Meanwhile, the Transport Working Group (TWG) advances the science, policy, and practice of ecologically-sensitive transportation infrastructure. The TWG is nearing completion of a WCPA Technical Report titled 'Addressing ecological connectivity in the development of roads, rails and canals'. | On-going |
| Policy influencing/advocacy | CCSG advanced connectivity in other policy fora by:
Participating at the 2nd Asia Parks Congress in Malaysia in May 2022, including supporting organization and outcomes under Working Group 3 “Connectivity & Transboundary Conservation” and Agreement on the Kota Kinabalu Declaration containing:
- Commitments to maintaining and restoring fragmented ecosystems and avoiding or mitigating the impacts off new infrastructure and environmentally destructive activities;
- Establishing and restoring ecological connectivity through networks off protected and conserved areas; and
- Securing natural habitat and improving connectivity of protected areas to maintain viable populations of critically endangered species.
Participating at the 1st IUCN Africa Protected Areas Congress in Rwanda in July 2022, especially contributing to Stream 1 “Promoting Effective and Well-managed Networks of PCAs in Africa” and Cross-cutting Theme 6 on “Infrastructure and Biodiversity”, as well as coordination of recommendations and drafting among colleagues and institutions culminating in the Kigali Call to Action for People and Nature that includes “Restoring fragmented and degraded ecosystems and avoiding or mitigating the impacts of climate change, new infrastructure and environmentally destructive activities, thereby maintaining ecological connectivity through networks of protected and conserved areas, including OECMs and transboundary areas”. | Completed |
| Policy influencing/advocacy | CCSG is contributing toward advancing connectivity within the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), such as:
1. Co-organizing a side event on the margins of the 15th Conference of the Parties in May in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) to discuss the intersections of applying connectivity conservation approaches toward achieving the objectives of the Convention and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
2. Advising on inclusion of connectivity-related issues and solutions in the 2nd Global Land Outlook (GLO); and
3. Preparing a forthcoming working paper in collaboration with the Secretariat tentatively titled “Ecological connectivity: An essential component of ecosystem restoration” advancing two key messages:
a. Connect to restore: The inclusion of ecological connectivity requirements in Integrated Land-use planning maximizes the benefits of restoration for the entire landscape; and
b. Restore to connect: Restoring ecological connectivity means restoring the unimpeded movement of species and the flow of natural processes that sustain life on Earth.
| On-going |
| Policy influencing/advocacy | CCSG is beginning engagement for emphasizing connectivity and climate synergies at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by holding an official side event at UNFCCC/CoP-27 on 18 November 2022 called “Connecting the Crises” where presentations highlighted connecting lands, inland waters and seas as critical to avert some of the most catastrophic impacts of climate change. Focus was brought to ecological corridors and networks as nature-based solutions to climate change and how connectivity contributes greatly to climate mitigation and adaptation measures, while providing enormous benefit to nature. On this occasion, partners officially launched the Wildlife Connect Initiative.
| On-going |
| Policy influencing/advocacy | CCSG’s engagement, leadership, and networking during and before CoP-15 included:
i. Co-organizing two official side events on 8 December entitled:
• Connecting against the crises: Integrating ecological connectivity in the Post-2020 GBF to combat biodiversity loss, climate change, land degradation and the next pandemic with CCSG Deputy Chair Jodi Hilty and WCPA Chair Madhu Rao participating as featured speakers; and
• Nature Positive Infrastructure: Connecting Communities – Safeguarding the Planet
ii. CCSG Executive Officer Aaron Laur presenting at the official side event From Aichi Target 11 to 30x30: Marine ecosystem connectivity & science-driven processes in support of decision making organized by the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB) and the Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative (GOBI)
iii. Producing a short video to visually emphasize ecological connectivity as essential for functioning ecosystems, maintaining the integrity of protected and conserved areas, saving biodiversity, increasing resilience to climate change, and urging governments at CoP-15 “to prioritise ecological connectivity in the next decade of action”.
| Completed |
| Policy influencing/advocacy | The CCSG furthered connectivity in other multi-lateral environmental agreements (MEAs), including contributing to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS):
The CMS Secretariat and a number of Parties have become close collaborators of CCSG and partners to advance connectivity-related efforts within and outside the convention. Following prior membership in the “Working Group on the Development of CMS Family Contributions to the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework”, CCSG has joined the “Working Group on Ecological Connectivity” established by the CMS Scientific Council. The primary objective of the WG is to support connectivity-related aspects of the Council’s Programme of Work, the implementation of relevant resolutions/decisions including Resolution 12.26 (Rev. COP13) entitled “Improving ways of addressing connectivity conservation of migratory species”, and contributions toward the aims of connectivity-related goals and targets of the GBF.
| On-going |
| Policy influencing/advocacy | The WCPA Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group is supporting efforts and outcomes to elevate ecological connectivity in the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including:
- Goal A includes ecological connectivity as a fundamental requirement for the functionality of ecosystems;
- Target 2 operationalizes ecological connectivity as part of maximizing the benefits and outcomes of restoration for entire landscapes and seascapes;
- Target 3 highlights that ecological connectivity helps to achieve the 30x30 target (by 2030 at least 30 per cent of land, freshwater, and marine areas are effectively protected, conserved, and managed); and
- Target 12 supports maintaining and designing for ecological connectivity in urban/high intensity agricultural areas.
And its measurement in the Monitoring Framework using a variety of indicators:
Re Goal A: CMS Connectivity Indicator, Dendritic Connectivity Index, Ecosystem Intactness Index, Forest Fragmentation Index, PARC-Connectedness, Protected Connected (Protconn) Index, Relative Magnitude of Fragmentation, River Fragmentation Index, and Trends in mangrove forest fragmentation; Re Target 2: Maintenance and restoration of connectivity of natural ecosystems; and Re Target 3: PARC-Connectedness, Connectivity Indicator (in development), Protected Area Isolation Index (PAI), and Protected Areas Network Metric (ProNet).
| On-going |
| Policy influencing/advocacy | [continued]
A workshop report detailing the information presented and consensus formed, served as the basis for a “Webinar on Ecological connectivity – Insights for post-2020 indicators” on 31 October. Attended by 241 participants from 121 countries, including many CBD Parties, participants discussed the importance of filling existing data gaps for measuring connectivity, the relevance of maintaining and monitoring ecological connectivity in relation to restoration under draft Target 2, and the process by which a headline indicator on connectivity might be proposed and developed. The resulting webinar report from these expert and CBD Party consultations was posted as an official submission on the CBD website entitled Ecological Connectivity Indicators for Measuring Progress Towards the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. It includes the key recommendation that a headline indicator be adopted as part of the Post-2020 GBF monitoring framework as follows: Status and trends in ecological connectivity: structural, functional, and migratory connectivity across terrestrial, coastal/marine, and inland aquatic ecosystems.
Although the Monitoring Framework adopted in Montreal does not include this specific wording, the aforementioned “CMS Connectivity Indicator” under Goal A and “Connectivity Indicator (in development)” under Target 3 are viewed by CCSG and partners as ideal placeholders as the CBD is now organizing the ad hoc technical expert group on indicators for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This opportunity, and ongoing process, remains in line with the intention to develop an enhanced indicator to cover key aspects of connectivity, including filling gaps for migratory species and coastal/marine ecosystems.
| Completed |
| Policy influencing/advocacy | [continued]
iv. Co-organizing a half-day of programming at the Nature Positive Pavilion under the title Nature-Positive Infrastructure - Mainstreaming Biodiversity to Safeguard People and the Planet including a keynote address by WCPA Chair Madhu Rao.
v. Sharing information, building consensus, and combining strengths and resources has further strengthened the coalition of organizations supporting strong connectivity-related goals, targets, and indicators for the Post-2020 GBF. The following “Briefs” were produced to convey consistent messaging during lead-up and after CoP-15:
• Results of Ecological Connectivity in the Montreal-Kunming GBF
• Ecological Connectivity in the draft post-2020 GBF
• Marine Ecological Connectivity
• Ecological Connectivity in Global Policy
vi. Enhancing collaboration to address the technical aspects of connectivity indicators applied to measure progress under the aforementioned goals and targets by holding a virtual workshop with scientists, experts, and partners actively engaged in creating and applying science-based indicators. Held on 20-21 April 2022 with 25+ participants, the workshop was supported by WWF-Belgium and co-organized with the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), CLLC, and the Secretariat of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).
| Completed |
| Scientific/technical activities | Re. Connectivity Indicators:
The new Protected Network metric (ProNet) developed by the Center for Large Landscape Conservation (CLLC) and leading CCSG members was published in Conservation Science and Practice. ProNet was conceived to be a simple, robust, and extendable metric specifically to guide high-level conservation actions and policies by tracking the performance of area-based conservation efforts with respect to the connectivity of a network of protected areas (i.e. applicable to Target 3). The journal article describes the need for, the methodological basis, and illustrative application. It further evaluates and compares ProNet to existing metrics using a library of hypothetical and real-world landscapes to provide a strong quantitative basis to compare different metrics. It also provides a 6-step connectivity framework to clarify concepts and terms commonly used when modeling or measuring connectivity. | On-going |
| Scientific/technical activities | [continued]
Subsequently, ProNet was included as a Complementary Indicator for Target 3 in the Montreal-Kunming GBF Monitoring Framework. As a general (headline) measure of protected area connectivity, ProNet will allow CBD Parties and others to more precisely quantify the structural connectivity of all PCAs taking into account their size and the permeability of the matrix within larger ecological networks. Conceived by David Theobald, CLLC, and CCSG will apply ProNet to more rapidly compute, describe, and communicate consistent, comprehensive, and comparable results that can be calculated at detailed resolutions (<1 km2). This will enable reporting progress at global, national, and subnational levels to inform more effective prioritization, planning, and management of ecological networks of PCAs. Further applications of ProNet are underway, including conceptualization of an indicator (a series of decisions made, data used, and actions taken when calculating a specific metric) to measure both structural and functional connectivity. This is being piloted in the Pantanal-Chaco (PACHA) landscape of South America, and will include guidance for how to measure and monitor protected area network connectivity depending on conservation objectives (e.g., connectivity for specific focal species or processes) and data available (e.g., camera trap data, movement data). | On-going |
