Landscape connectivity

This thematic study focuses on the contribution the World Heritage Convention can make to wilderness conservation around the world. It provides pragmatic guidance to the Convention and its many partners for strengthening protection of wilderness by promoting the profound linkages between culture and wild nature.

This background paper surveys international experience in the development and use of mechanisms to establish and manage connectivity conservation. Specifically it seeks to provide an understanding of the range of mechanisms including laws, regulations, and other regulatory instruments and agreements which have been used in other countries to support connectivity conservation.

This document recounts the authors’ experience in participatory conservation processes that seek terrestrial biodiversity connectivity. It synthesizes at least a decade of research and practice. Its documentation of this experience hopefully can contribute to the conservation and restoration of ecological connectivity in other parts of Latin America and the world.

Asia has a rich cultural and natural heritage, but rapid development, population growth and an erosion of traditional practices are resulting in habitat loss and degradation, which is putting protected areas in Asia at risk and leading to serious decline in the biodiversity they harbour.

This paper examines how interventions intended to improve functionality and productivity of forested landscapes to improve livelihoods of the poorest populations, might actually yield co-benefits in terms of biodiversity conservation. It argues in favour of a ‘landscape’ approach to achieve these co-benefits.

In an era of climate change, deforestation and massive habitat loss, we can no longer rely on parks and protected areas as isolated 'islands of wilderness' to conserve and protect vital biodiversity. Increasing connections are being considered and made between protected areas and 'connectivity' thinking has started to expand to the regional and even the continental scale to match the challenges of conserving biodiversity in the face of global environmental change.

Aborda el tema de la conectividad del paisaje y su papel en la conservación de la naturaleza. Ofrece una idea comprensiva de la importancia de las medidas que mejoran la conectividad del paisaje, y de cómo estos enlaces pueden beneficiar el estatus de la conservación de especies de vida silvestre. Incluye ejemplos y estudios de caso.

The loss and fragmentation of natural habitats is one of the major issues in wildlife management and conservation. Habitat "corridors" are sometimes proposed as an important element within a conservation strategy. Examples are given of corridors both as pathways and as habitats in their own right.

The loss and fragmentation of natural habitats is one of the major issues in wildlife management and conservation. Habitat "corridors" are sometimes proposed as an important element within a conservation strategy. Examples are given of corridors both as pathways and as habitats in their own right.