California Essential Habitat Connectivity Project

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) commissioned the California Essential Habitat Connectivity Project because a functional network of connected wildlands is essential to the continued support of California ’s diverse natural communities in the face of human development and climate change. This project, which was reviewed by ~200 people from 62 agencies, is also intended to make transportation and land-use planning more efficient and less costly, while helping reduce dangerous wildlife-vehicle collisions.

This Essential Habitat Connectivity Report includes three primary products: (1) a statewide Essential Habitat Connectivity Map, (2) data characterizing areas delineated on the map, and (3) guidance for mitigating the fragmenting effects of roads and for developing and implementing local and regional connectivity plans.  Work was carried out by a consulting team comprised of staff from The Dangermond Group, Conservation Biology Institute, SC Wildlands, and Paul Beier, Ph.D.