In New Hampshire, The Nature Conservancy is supporting the Department of Fish and Game in reconvening a state Transportation and Wildlife Work Group, bringing together an interdisciplinary team to reduce the effects of roads on the state’s fish and wildlife, particularly Species of Greatest Conservation Need.

The work group will focus on: (1) prioritizing locations for road barrier/mortality mitigation; (2) collating and sharing road barrier mitigation best management practices, including culvert and bridge design, fencing, signage, etc; (3) promoting awareness of wildlife/transportation issues, including increasing outreach and technical assistance to stakeholders and highlighting success stories; (4) supporting transportation managers in considering fish and wildlife passage in the management and planning of state and municipal transportation networks; (5) increasing collaboration a mong partners to share and discuss projects, ideas, and improve data sharing; and (6) serving as a resource for fish and wildlife passage projects. Convening state or province work groups on transportation and wildlife is a strategy that can be replicated in other parts of the region. Contact Dave Patrick to learn more.

Photo credit: The Nature Conservancy in NH

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) recently protected 170 hectares (420 acres) within an essential corridor between Forillon National Park and other public lands.

Although protected, Forillon National Park is insufficient in size to sustain the long-term health of its populations, such as Canada Lynx. Located on the northeastern tip of Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula, Forillon National Park faces an isolation threat, caused by increased development on the last remaining woodlots along the 10-mile stretch of Highway 197, which runs along its western boundary. NCC plans to continue efforts to protect additional habitat in this critical area. Contact Kateri Monticone to learn more.

Photo credit: NCC

University of Vermont master’s student Andy Wood completed a thesis on wildlife camera research, roadkill surveys, and assessments of culverts and bridges to understand how Route 8 impacts wildlife traveling between two large protected forests in and around Otis, MA. Andy developed metho dology and training materials from his work on Route 8 and the Massachusetts Turnpike so that students and citizen scientists can repeat this study on other priority road segments. View the thesis , including useful appendices with datasheets, protocols, and how-to guides. Contact Laura Marx to learn more.

Photo credit: The Nature Conservancy in MA

In late 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded a $4.6 million grant for improving connectivity in western Maine, through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). RCPP is a voluntary conservation program which provides farmers, ranchers, and forest land owners with conservation planning, technical, and financial assistance. Led by the Trust for Public Land, grant partners including Maine Audubon, the American Forest Foundation, and the New England Forestry Foundation are utilizing this grant in four distinct ways to improve inadequate fish and wildlife habitat in the Maine portion of the Northeast Kingdom to Western Maine Linkage:

In 2017, outreach and education workshops identified landowners interested in improving wildlife habitat, and funds will now be allocated to implement projects on the ground. The RCPP funds will be matched by public and private support to bring the funds for the entire project to $10 million. While the project officially ends in 2021, the partners hope to replicate this approach in other parts of the region. Contact Betsy Cook to learn more.

Photo credit: Jerry Monkman

During the widening of Quebec's Highway 175 from 2006-2011, 33 wildlife underpasses and exclusion fences for small and medium-sized mammals were constructed. These are among the first in Quebec. Road mortality surveys, wildlife cameras and genetic analysis for American martens was used to monitor the structures’ effectiveness and overall permeability. While total wildlife mortality was not decreased (as a result of fence-end mortality and the need for longer fence sections), the structures demonstrated a major success for wildlife passage. View the full report or contact Jochen Jaeger to learn more about this research. 

In December, we conducted a survey of SCI partners and collaborators to learn more about the breadth of individuals and organizations now working to address landscape connectivity in the northern Appalachian-Acadian region and identify ways to improve the partnership. Over 80 people, representing over 50 organizations, completed the survey. Here are a few highlights from the survey results:

We have already begun to follow up with respondents seeking more information and greater engagement with the partnership. Stay tuned as we continue these efforts!