Corridor ecology and land management decision-making

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons, originally posted on Flickr by puliarf

Species declines worldwide can be traced back to one or both of the following causal drivers: overharvest or killing, and major habitat loss and fragmentation. The corresponding area of study that aims to mitigate the impacts of human expansion and impacts is corridor ecology. This subdivision of conservation biology examines the efficacy of implementing habitat connectors such as freeway overpasses and underpasses, greenways, and other safe connectivity corridors. If these habitat connectors are effective, they promote wildlife to gather in habitat strongholds where  species can survive and reproduce. The conflict brought about by the inevitable expansion of human growth and structures while maintaining habitat strongholds calls to question how we can best design and manage the landscape to maintain viable populations that are resilient to impacts from human activities and climate change. 

YERC has been a pioneer in Geodesign - a tool for landscape and land-use planning - wherein Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used to measure the impact of potential land use changes before they happen. We are working alongside landscape architects Ryley Enich and Aleck Gantick of CV Studio, and Park County Environmental Council (PCEC) to coordinate a case study for Geodesign working with and supporting the needs of city and county planners in Park County. They plan to conduct four meetings in the span of three months to introduce stakeholders to the Geodesignhub interface, collect input, and generate map layers with that input to produce visual results that can be used to help inform future growth and land use planning. 

The non-binding, pre-planning project using a Geodesign case study in the Livingston area has the potential to be expanded into other cities and counties to bring together diverse groups of people to work together toward in the GYE - an intentional plan for their beloved homes, landscapes, and furry and feathered neighbors. The occupants of such communities - human and wildlife alike - benefit from this inclusive and scientifically informed process to create a sustainable plan for the future.