Leah Fulton
Old Growth Forest Connectivity and Landscape Fragmentation
During the 40th Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, Resolution 40-3 was passed, recognizing the significance of the Appalachian-Acadian forest. The resolution contributes to acknowledging the importance of the forest on local and global scales.
The signature of Wade MacLauchlan, Premier of Prince Edward Island and conference Co-Chair, in passing
Resolution 40-3 established collaboration in maintaining and restoring ecological connectivity. Not only does this commitment invest in conservation, but Resolution 40-3 also contributes to Pathway To Canada Target 1, a nationwide ecological connectivity strategy. The work presented in aims to identify and understand ecological connectivity to further support future conservation measures in Prince Edward Island (PEI).
Ecological connectivity can be referred to as the degree to which blocks of suitable habitat are connected in the landscape, generally characterized as two separate components: structural connectivity and functional connectivity. Connectivity modelling involves a great deal of research, data compilation, GIS analysis and interpretation. As such, this project employs a variety of landscape fragmentation metrics , effective mesh size, and Circuitscape analysis to assess connectivity in PEI.
Informed by the State of Nova Scotia's Forest Connectivity
In collaboration with the Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forestry, this project examined the current state of forest connectivity across the province as part of the province’s commitments to resolution 40-3. Patch-based and circuit theory methods were used to map patterns of forest connectivity across Nova Scotia. Within this project, a new method for analyzing changes in patch-based metrics across landscapes was developed.
Final Report of this project: Cunningham, C., Beazley, K., Bush, P. & Brazner, J. (2020). Forest Connectivity in Nova Scotia. Report by Dalhousie University in partnership with Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forestry.
Report Results
Within Prince Edward Island, this work builds on the research conducted by Dalhousie University in Assessing Forest Connectivity in Nova Scotia, which includes the use of the effective mesh size in a modified moving-window analysis (Cunningham, 2020). This report aims to identify the areas of PEI that are less fragmented than others, assess the connectivity of the remaining areas, and address the knowledge gap on ecological connectivity in Prince Edward Island. This report analyzed three individual landscape classifications – natural ecosystems, forests, and mature forests – to understand the impacts of fragmentation on ecological connectivity. These three landscape classifications represent broad structural habitats for various aquatic and terrestrial species. This report found that over 50% of PEI is within 300m of a road, 94% within 1km, and 99% within 5km.
Recommendations
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First, there is a lack of research on assessing landscape connectivity from a functional connectivity perspective (i.e., focal species movement, areas of species concentration, or metapopulations).
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Secondly, it is recommended that finer-scale connectivity assessments be prioritized in relation to conservation efforts.
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Long-term landscape planning should consider establishing protected areas based on structural and functional connectivity patterns, as well as small-scale infrastructure to support connectivity networks.
Research Dissemination
L. Fulton, P. Bush (2020). Current State of Landscape Connectivity and Structural Fragmentation in Prince Edward Island. Report.
