Corridor Connectivity
Corridor Connectivity
Conservation through connection
Capacity to Deliver -
LP14-002
The issue
Habitat loss and fragmentation are two processes currently threatening terrestrial biodiversity. Habitats provide essential resources for plants and animals to survive. Fragmentation is the process by which large habitats are disconnected or broken into small isolated fragments across a landscape. Anthropogenic disturbance such as agricultural expansion and urbanisation has resulted in dramatic global habitat loss and fragmentation. Such changes to existing habitat reduces the carrying capacity of indigenous plants and animals. This leads to a decline in native populations, sometimes up to the level of extinction.
The solution
The Corridor Connectivity across the Little River Catchment project has established 8ha of continuous vegetation for wildlife corridors across the district. Many landholders residing in the catchment have established habitat corridors on their properties through the fencing off of remnant vegetation from grazing, restoration of riparian zones or planting of paddock trees. Wildlife corridors are vegetative connections across the landscape that link up areas of habitat. Corridors allow movement between isolated habitats, promoting gene flow between neighbouring species. This process maintains genetic diversity in populations, increasing biodiversity and a species's ability to adapt to changing landscapes.
The impact
Wildlife corridors provide animals and plants with multiple benefits. They improve access to food and water and allow animals to safely move throughout the landscape while avoiding anthropogenic activities. They also play a key role in pollination (increasing seed dispersal), a process essential for strengthening ecosystem resilience. For humans, their presence prevents soil erosion, increases water retention and improves crop pollination for agriculture land.
More than 450 plants were planted in 2020 to help increase habitat connectivity along riparian zones. To reduce biodiversity loss, seedlings from the Endangered Ecological Communities White Box, Yellow Box, Blakely's Red Gum grassy woodland community (Eucalyptus melliodora, Eucalyptus blakelyi, Eucalyptus albens and Eucalyptus camaldulensis) were planted parallel to understory species Acacia implexa, Acacia deanei, Acacia spectabilis, Acacia vestita and Acacia paradoxa. Before completion, the corridor project aims to rebuild approximately 20-30 ha of continuous habitat across the Little River Catchment.
Key facts
- 8 hectares of wildlife corridors created and 450 endemic seedlings planted
- Biodiversity impacts from habitat loss and fragmentation
- Importance of gene flow between populations
- Importance of habitat conservation for landscape resilience