Habitat connectivity, or the degree of ease with which animals are able to travel between areas of suitable habitat, is crucial to an ecosystem’s health and can affect the ability of wildlife to migrate, breed, and access food and water. Meade Krosby, a senior scientist for the UW Climate Impacts Group and university deputy director of the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center is part of a research team seeking to address the issue of habitat connectivity in the Pacific Northwest under a changing climate. Under a changing climate, many animals will shift their ranges in order to find more livable habitats, and rely on movement corridors to access new habitats. Maintaining these corridors that facilitate the movement of wildlife between areas of suitable habitat will be critical as climate conditions change.

The Washington Wildlife Connectivity Working Group, a partnership co-led by the Washington Department of Transportation and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is working to address this issue of habitat connectivity in the Pacific Northwest. 

Learn more about the work Meade Krosby is leading on connectivity here.