ENHANCING ECOLOGICAL CONNECTIVITY PLANNING THROUGH UNRAVELING TRADEOFFS IN CORRIDOR CONSERVATION STRATEGIES

Abstract

Nature's intricate balance, from vast wilderness to urban landscapes, sustains life on Earth, with ecosystems supporting diverse species vital for our well-being. However, unsustainable human activities threaten this delicate harmony, accelerating species extinction rates and disrupting vital ecological processes. This imperative relationship between nature reserves and human survival underscores the significance of preserving ecological connectivity, because it forms the cornerstone of life's persistence. The global effort to address habitat loss and declining biodiversity has emphasized two primary mechanisms for improvement: area-based conservation and management, with a sub-goal of ensuring these areas are well-connected systems (ecological connectivity). Despite global efforts, challenges persist in safeguarding ecological connectivity, crucial for maintaining the resilience of nature reserves. Fragmentation caused by habitat loss and degradation impedes animal movement between reserves, jeopardizing their ability to thrive and fulfil ecological functions. Mainstreaming ecological connectivity into development agendas is crucial for achieving sustainability goals, as highlighted by international platforms like the IPBES. Despite progress, significant gaps exist in understanding and effectively managing ecological corridors. Key challenges include establishing a scientific basis, fostering common terminology, and addressing logistical and socio-economic hurdles. To enhance conservation outcomes, greater emphasis is needed on integrating spatial and functional connectivity concerns into nature reserve management strategies with other factors. As we strive for harmony between humans and nature, prioritizing ecological connectivity alongside nature reserve management is essential for safeguarding biodiversity and ensuring a sustainable future. The study underscores the critical importance of ecological connectivity in conservation efforts and focuses on understanding the dynamics and actors shaping spatial and functional connectivity concerns, using a case study approach. Traditionally, ecological connectivity has been modelled primarily based on biophysical factors of resistance. However, this approach overlooks the socio-economic, political, and institutional factors influencing conservation outcomes. To address this gap, the study advocates for the integration of the Spatial Ecological Network (SEN) concept advocated by the IUCN connectivity conservation specialist group. SEN emphasizes the need to consider diverse multi-criteria datasets for Enhancing Ecological Connectivity Planning Through Unravelling Tradeoffs in Corridor Conservation Strategies iv ecological connectivity modelling to improve prediction accuracy and lower failure rates. This approach aims to develop complex models that incorporate network dynamics (both human-induced and natural) and resilience to climate and land use changes. Within this framework, the study focuses on anthropogenic resistance, particularly implementation resistance, which arises from human activities and impedes successful conservation actions. Implementation resistance poses a significant challenge to conservation efforts, often resulting in partial or failed implementation of ecological corridor conservation measures leading to impeded movement of animals. To address this challenge, the study examines socio-economic, political, and institutional conditions within ecological corridors, aiming to understand the drivers behind implementation resistance. By comprehensively analysing these factors, the study explores the integration of implementation resistance into advanced SEN modelling techniques. The results of the objectives quantitatively demonstrate the significant costs incurred by neglecting implementation resistance in corridor modelling. Furthermore, the nuanced qualitative findings of the study are anticipated to be instrumental in shaping the development or evolution of the concept of Spatial Ecological Networks (SEN) in the future. These outcomes are poised to provide crucial insights for enhancing decision-making support for conservation practitioners and policymakers, ultimately leading to more effective conservation outcomes. By striving to formalize the integration of implementation resistance into connectivity modelling, the study seeks to advance our understanding of ecological connectivity and drive improvements in conservation efforts. Overall, the study signifies noteworthy progress in confronting the challenges associated with implementing successful conservation actions to bolster the resilience of ecological networks, albeit as a relatively minor aspect of consideration in advanced spatial ecological network modelling.