Bennett, Graham

Until well into recent times, a high level of connectivity existed among ecosystems. Through the ever-increasing extent and intensity of human exploitation of natural resources, however, the pattern of human activities as islands in a sea of nature has become reversed in most of the world’s regions. Habitat fragmentation is now one of the most important causes of the decline in biodiversity.

IUCN's 5th World Parks Congress (2003) concluded that parks should not exist as unique islands, but need to be planned and managed as an integral part of the broader landscape. Ecological networks provide an operational model for conserving biodiversity that is based on ecological principles and allow a degree of human use of the landscape.

This report comprises a worldwide review of 38 ecological network initiatives that are currently being developed or implemented. It includes an inventory of a wide range of proposals, plans and ongoing programmes to establish ecological networks at scales varying from the regional to intercontinental, and summary findings on the main features of the initiatives.