1. T HE S TAYING C ONNECTED I NITIATIVE - An International Collaboration to Conserve, Restore and Enhance Landscape Connectivity Across Vermont and the Northern Appalachian-Acadian Region John Austin & Jens Hilke VT Fish & Wildlife Department

2. SCI Mission “The mission of the Staying Connected Initiative (SCI) is to conserve, restore, and sustain critical landscape connections across the Northern Appalachian-Acadian region for the benefit of nature and people. Sustaining these linkages will help safeguard native wildlife and plants from the impacts of habitat fragmentation and climate change, and support human activities and values that are tied to the forested landscape. We work across borders and at multiple scales to address these challenges.”

3. Connected forest habitats enable range adjustments of plant and animal species as climate shifts. Sufficient genetic exchange to support viable populations of native wide- ranging wildlife species. Human activities and values tied to forested landscape – including forest- based economies, outdoor recreation, sense of place, and aesthetics – are viable and a defining characteristic of the region. People understand values of landscape connectivity and tools to conserve it, and care enough to take action. Habitat fragmentation is minimized through appropriate land use management practices and development designs. Wildlife can move safely across roads and other linear infrastructure. Connectivity conservation institutionalized as a priority among key public agencies, NGOs, and funders. SCI Ultimate Outcomes

4. STAYING CONNECTED

5. A Big Network of Partners – at Multiple Scales

6. Multi-pronged approach ► Conservation Science ► Key Road Sections ► Land Use Planning ► Land Protection ► Outreach & Education VNRC assistance to Regional Planning Commissions & Towns VLT, TNC, TPL, Conservation Fund, NEWT, FWD Land Protection FWD tec. assistance to all municipalities & RPCs VTRANS, TNC, FWD photo- monitoring bridges and culverts

7. Conservation Science & Planning Linkage-specific GIS modeling Wildlife tracking Game cameras Citizen science Sharing results Measures framework & baseline

8. Linkage areas in VT Different data available in each linkage Different models in each linkage Different landscape context Least cost path Cost-weighted distance analysis Basis for all SCI work

9. Conservation science Vermont cost-surface developed in 2010 Cost surface used for separate runs from anchor to anchor Worcesters to Kingdom Modeling

10. Conservation science Aggregated Network Developed

11. Conservation science Structural Pathways

12. Network of Connected Lands BioFinder L5, L6, L7 Participates in regional- scale habitat connectivity Genetic Exchange About 180 VT towns

13. Making Roads More Wildlife-Friendly Identification of priority road segments Wildlife tracking & camera monitoring Data sharing VT Transportation and Connectivity Guidance Document Trainings for DOTs Northeast Transportation and Wildlife Conferences ET Thursday, May 21, 2:30 - 3:30 PM NATIONAL WEBINAR for ECO-Logical Vermont’s Staying Connected Initiative: A Partnership to Advance Landscape-Scale Conservation

14. Land Protection 80+ permanent protection projects completed - > 300,000 acres Model easement provisions Connectivity in criteria for federal cost-share programs (VT)

15. Land Use Planning Technical assistance to: 41 communities Seven regional planning commissions (RPCs) Outcomes: 13 town plans (5 in works) Six zoning and subdivision codes One regional plan (3 in works) Two new Conservation Commissions One new Conservation Fund

16. Local Engagement – Northern Green Mountains Cold Hollow to Canada (CHC)

17. A Public-Private Partnership  Benefits to State Agencies  Expands capacity of technical assistance & land protection  Expands spectrum of activity (through multi- pronged approach)  Provides eco-regional context  Encourages local empowerment

18. Website – www.stayingconnectedinitiative.org

19. Q&A / Discussion