NJ Habitat Connectivity Initiative: Goals for the Plan, Products, and
Communication Team
Habitat Connectivity Plan Goals:
A strategic plan promoting the long-term viability of terrestrial wildlife populations in New
Jersey through a science-based, collaborative approach. The plan will consist of two tools that
identify and recommend opportunities and priorities to conserve and restore habitat connectivity.
o A GIS-based map that identifies and characterizes critical habitat core and corridors.
o A guidance document that recommends conservation actions in areas identified by
associated mapping of habitat cores and corridors.
NJ Habitat Connectivity Initiative: Goals for the Plan, Products, and
Communication Team
Connectivity Mapping Goals:
Identify and characterize habitat cores and corridors that are critical for the long-term viability of
terrestrial wildlife populations. The identified corridors are ones that:
Provide live-in and move-through habitat
[Serve to reconnect existing protected areas]*
Enable species to meet basic daily and seasonal biological requirements (e.g. finding
food, mates, cover)
Provide for dispersal and recolonization of populations
Enable redistribution of populations in response to climatic, environmental, and
population level changes
Facilitate genetic exchange among populations
Consider connectivity across the state border
[]* This is a placeholder for a core areas definition. We have not yet decided if the areas we
connected will necessarily all be protected areas.
NJ Habitat Connectivity Initiative: Goals for the Plan, Products, and
Communication Team
Guidance Document Goals:
A document to assist agencies involved in land-use planning, transportation planning, land
management, and conservation with restoring and maintaining a connected landscape, as
identified by associated mapping of habitat cores and corridors, for terrestrial wildlife in New
Jersey.
•
The document will recommend actions and measures needed to establish effective
corridors including:
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Land protection
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Land management
•
Mitigating the impacts of roads
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The document will integrate resilience planning and recommend hazard mitigation
actions in areas at risk of flooding and other natural hazards.
•
Consideration will be given to potential adverse impacts of increased connectivity.
•
Recommendations will be made on pre- and post-monitoring of corridors.
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The document will emphasize cost-effective practices.
•
The document language will cater to a professional audience.
NJ Habitat Connectivity Initiative: Goals for the Plan, Products, and
Communication Team
Communication Team Goals:
The main objectives of the Communications Team are:
•
to facilitate internal communication among the NJHCP Core Teams (Communications,
Mapping, and Guidance Document) and membership;
•
to create outreach products and media that engage stakeholders and guide implementation
of the NJHCP; and
•
to support the development of and the long-term, on-the-ground objectives of the NJHCP
by securing grants, partnerships, and recognition well beyond the planning stage.