Vermont Wildlife Linkage Habitat

The Wildlife Linkage Habitat Analysis uses landscape scale data to identify or predict the location of potentially significant wildlife linkage habitats (WLH) associated with state roads throughout Vermont. For purposes of this project, WLH is a term used to describe those habitats associated with Vermont roads where wildlife move, migrate, and access various other habitats and parts of their range (similar to, but broader than, wildlife corridors). This project relied on available GIS data including: (a) land use and land cover data; (b) development density data (E911 sites); and (c) contiguous or "core" habitat data from the University of Vermont. The GIS conserved lands data was also used for this project as a way of analyzing the feasibility for conserving or ranking potentially significant WLHs identified as a result of this project. These data were classified according to their relative significance with respect to wildlife movement and habitat areas. The resulting spatial layer is a statewide raster coverage describing the predicability of finding suitable habitat.