international connectivity

Center Staff Members Visit Borneo for the 2nd Asia Parks Congress

In May 2022, more than 1,200 participants—including four staff members from the Center for Large Landscape Conservation—from 49 countries gathered in the city of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia for the 2nd Asia Parks Congress (APC). Jointly convened by Sabah Parks and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), this APC paved the way for the conservation community to refocus and reinvigorate common objectives, as one of the first, large, in-person (and virtual) gatherings to be held in Asia since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

By centerforlargelandscapes|2022-06-20T13:31:40-06:00June 17th, 2022|Events, International Connectivity, Networking, News and Updates|Comments Off

Field Notes from Ecuador II: Balancing Rare Species Protections With Rural Livelihoods

A steady rain drenched us head to toe, and as it neared midnight I started to wonder when we would finally head back to camp. The herpetologists, though, were unconcerned with the elements. They scrambled up and down steep muddy slopes in search of reptile and amphibian specimens. In all likelihood, the fruits of their labor would be the discovery of species completely new to science! When the group finally called it quits for the night, the transect had yielded a half dozen frogs, a plump lizard, and a beautiful, non-venomous false coral snake to be documented and photographed.

By centerforlargelandscapes|2022-04-21T10:13:01-06:00April 20th, 2022|Corridors and Crossings, International Connectivity, People, Research|Comments Off

Field Notes from Ecuador I: Exploring Connectivity Conservation in a Biodiversity Hotspot

This past weekend, I visited the newly established Parque Nacional Río Negro Sopladora, a national park that covers more than 30,000 hectares of undisturbed habitat in Ecuador, ranging from high peaks at 12,800 feet above sea level eastwards into the humid Amazon basin, at 2,600 ft. A highlight of hiking in this lesser-known park was seeing hours-fresh footprints of mountain tapir and a large cat (my guess is cougar). It was nice to finally get my boots muddy after two weeks in the city, getting situated in the country I will call home for a month and a half.

By centerforlargelandscapes|2022-04-21T10:12:36-06:00March 15th, 2022|Corridors and Crossings, International Connectivity, People, Research|Comments Off

New Report: Experts Say Roads, Rails, and Canals are Threatening Asian Elephant Survival

An international group of more than 25 elephant biologists and infrastructure ecologists released a report today with an urgent message: All efforts to avoid key Asian elephant habitats and their migration corridors need to be made when developing linear infrastructure like roads, railways, and canals. If this is not possible, wildlife crossings are key to providing safe passage for this endangered species. The report comes in response to an explosion of new linear infrastructure across Asia that is increasingly blocking elephant movement and leading to deadly collisions.

By centerforlargelandscapes|2022-05-30T13:33:30-06:00December 8th, 2021|Corridors and Crossings, International Connectivity, Networks We Host, News and Updates, Press Releases, Research|Comments Off

The Center Helps Set Global Conservation Agenda at IUCN Congress

Every four years, thousands of representatives from government, civil society, Indigenous peoples, business, and academia come together at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) World Conservation Congress with the goal of setting conservation priorities and driving actions. In light of challenges to convening, the postponed 2020 Congress was held with both in-person and virtual participants from September 3 to 11, 2021, in Marseille, France. As an official non-governmental organization (NGO) Member of the Union, the Center for Large Landscape Conservation contributed in multiple ways at the Congress toward setting the international conservation agenda for the coming decade.

By centerforlargelandscapes|2021-09-16T12:24:53-06:00September 16th, 2021|Corridors and Crossings, Events, International Connectivity, News and Updates|Comments Off

‘Rules of Thumb’ for Marine Connectivity Conservation Released Today

The ecological connectivity of marine and coastal ecosystems is essential. It requires linkages that connect our oceans' critical habitats, species, and natural processes. These connections allow a variety of species to move and they also sustain important ecosystem functions such as fish larvae dispersal, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration—the ocean's ability to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow climate change. To inform conservation efforts that maintain, enhance, and restore ecological connectivity of the oceans, a new publication was released today titled "Marine Connectivity Conservation ‘Rules of Thumb’ for MPA and MPA Network Design."

By centerforlargelandscapes|2021-12-06T15:19:01-07:00August 10th, 2021|Climate Resilience, International Connectivity, Science|Comments Off

Protected Planet Report: 7.84% of Land is Protected and Connected

Protected lands and freshwaters cover approximately a sixth of the world’s surface according to the new Protected Planet Report 2020. This online publication provides insights on the status of global progress toward achieving the goal of protecting at least 17% of land by 2020. It also highlights opportunities for goals and actions toward halting and reversing the biodiversity crisis before 2050. The Center is proud to have contributed to this leading global assessment on the state of protected and conserved areas around the world.

By centerforlargelandscapes|2021-07-19T17:14:57-06:00May 28th, 2021|International Connectivity, Research|Comments Off

Connecting Youth for Nature: Experiences from the Global Youth Summit

Akash Patil of India spoke of his first encounter with a leopard and his subsequent commitment to a career in conservation. Nayla Azmi told a story of growing up in an Indonesian palm oil plantation and her journey to become an orangutan protector. Sarah Kulis, a recent graduate from West Virginia University, and legally blind, encouraged other aspiring conservationists with disabilities to persevere. These were three of the young storytellers who shared their experiences in conservation at the Center's workshop at the recent IUCN Global Youth Summit.

By centerforlargelandscapes|2021-05-04T11:37:00-06:00May 4th, 2021|Events, International Connectivity, Mentorship, Networking|Comments Off

UN Adopts Landmark Resolution “Nature Knows No Borders”

Recently, the United Nations General Assembly adopted an unprecedented resolution recognizing the critical importance of ecological connectivity worldwide. The resolution, sponsored by Kyrgyzstan and signed by 60 other countries, encourages all 193 country members to enhance habitat and species connectivity to preserve ecosystems and wildlife corridors that share borders between countries.

By centerforlargelandscapes|2021-07-19T17:11:33-06:00May 1st, 2021|International Connectivity, News and Updates, Policy|Comments Off

Launch of French Translation of IUCN Global Guidelines for Connectivity Conservation

Following release of the first-ever IUCN ‘Guidelines for Conserving Connectivity through Ecological Networks and Corridors’ in July 2020, the Center for Large Landscape Conservation today announces publication of the official French translation of this groundbreaking document. The Center’s global leadership contributed to the creation of the guidelines, a milestone achievement for the protection of the Earth’s ecological connectivity—the unimpeded movement of species and the flow of natural processes that sustain life.

By centerforlargelandscapes|2021-02-03T09:17:24-07:00February 3rd, 2021|International Connectivity|0 Comments