Reconnecting landscapes that have suffered from habitat loss is the clearest way to conserve ecological systems and the services they provide. Growing evidence shows that corridors that create networks of natural habitats serve as superhighways for plants and animals. By doing so, they increase biodiversity.
Their value goes beyond biodiversity conservation. We create corridors by conserving forest buffers along rivers and streams, by conserving greenways through urban areas, and by conserving strips of natural habitats through agricultural lands. In doing so, we create habitats that purify water, provide opportunities for recreation, and increase pollination. In the face of global change, corridors offer a compelling path toward conservation for nature and for people.
Nick Haddad is Professor and Director of the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station and Department of Integrative Biology at Michigan State University.
Sponsored by the Environmental Change Initiative.