Making Connections for Wildlife
Aligning Transportation Projects with State Wildlife Action Plans:  A Step-by-Step Guide for Integrated Conservation Planning

Who Should Use this Guide?

This guide is designed for anyone interested in aligning state transportation planning with wildlife conservation planning, as described in each state’s Wildlife Action Plan. The case study in Colorado, which served as the pilot project for developing this guide, was led by a non-profit organization, the Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project. However, this model can be adapted by any group or individual wishing to spearhead a process for integrating the goals and objectives of a State Wildlife Action Plan into that state’s transportation planning processes. The mapping of wildlife linkage areas does require technical expertise – these steps should be conducted by Geographic Information Systems (GIS) professionals either within the wildlife agency or by an outside consultant or non-profit group with the appropriate expertise (as in the case of the Colorado project). Regardless of who starts the process, the most important thing in pursing this model is the development of collaborative interagency relationships to ensure that the needs and concerns of both the state wildlife agency and the state transportation agency are addressed.

What does this Guide Offer?

The following step-by-step guide provides a framework for ensuring that the early consideration of conservation priorities – specifically wildlife movement needs – that began in the long-range transportation planning process continues into the short-term planning processes, and that the necessary data are developed so that these needs can be appropriately addressed. Specifically, the guide outlines a process for developing high quality data with regards to identifying important areas for wildlife habitat connectivity, as identified by the State Wildlife Action Plan, and working with natural resource and transportation agencies to integrate these data into the project planning process. Work conducted in Colorado provides a case study for this guide. Funding for the development of this guide and the Colorado pilot project was provided by the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Overarching Goal

Protect and restore landscape connections amidst a large and growing transportation infrastructure by integrating conservation needs identified by State Wildlife Action Plans with the transportation planning process.