Landscape Scale Ecological Connectivity: Australian Survey and Rehearsals

Abstract

Landscape scale ecological restoration and connectivity initiatives are gaining momentum in Australia and globally to protect and restore native vegetation and biodiversity. While these initiatives originated in response to habitat fragmentation and land use intensification they are increasingly framed within the discourses of climate change adaptation and ecological resilience. With a focus on initiatives over large landscape scales, this article directs attention to the social and institutional implications of this emerging, and poorly understood phenomenon. These initiatives represent a paradigm shift in conservation management in two ways: firstly, connectivity represents a move from a focus on “sites and species” to landscapes and processes; secondly, connectivity signifies a reconstruction of the role of government and non government organizations in conservation. While these initiatives show promise for integrated conservation management across multiple tenures, they face challenges of collaboration and communication across vast, diverse landscapes, communities and agendas. This article overviews emerging landscape scale initiatives in Australia and introduces a conceptual framework for thinking about social and institutional connectivity. While there is much debate concerning the science of connectivity, there is a distinct gap in our understanding of the requisite conditions for implementation. There is, however, existing research and practice on the social dimensions of natural resource management and conservation that could inform the implementation of connectivity initiatives.