About
The center for large landscape conservation (CLLC) amplifies community and governmental conservation efforts through research, advancing science-based policy and guidelines, and implementing "on the ground" practice in areas of conservation importance. Our work defines and advances BEST practices in landscape connectivity throughout the u.s. And globally. We engage in four ways: (1) we develop and apply science to reconnect fragmented landscapes and provide safe passage for wildlife and people; (2) we inform new policy and law, and develop international standards, to support and accelerate large landscape conservation locally, nationally, and globally; (3) we connect professionals and decision makers to share information and resources by coordinating and participating in networks worldwide; and (4) we support community-based planning and project implementation to protect and manage large landscapes. Part III, 4a continuation local governments have land use authority across nearly two-thirds of land in the united states and have a key role to play in preserving wildlife habitat connectivity. In recognition of the importance of local action, CLLC created a report bringing together the policy tools and practical strategies that cities, towns, and counties CAN use to help keep landscapes connected. The report serves as a practical guide for planners and partners to incorporate wildlife habitat connectivity into local land use planning. It includes sample policy and ordinance language from communities across the country; links to relevant planning and technical resources; case studies that highlight realistic implementation approaches; and recommendations and BEST practices to support local decision-making. One example of a community working to balance population growth with the preservation of ecosystems in the face of fragmentation from roads and development is gallatin county, montana. With our expertise in land-use planning and road ecology, CLLC was contracted to lead a wildlife and transportation assessment of major roads in the county. Phase 1 of the assessment in FY25 compiled, mapped, and analyzed public data to identify potential sites where mitigation measures-such as culvert and overpasses- could improve the safety of travelers and wildlife and help maintain habitat connectivity. A joint project of CLLC and montana state university's western transportation institute, the assessment AIMS to serve as a foundational document to guide gallatin county in addressing wildlife-vehicle collisions while preserving wildlife movement. Another local AREA struggling with increased traffic is the ninemile/sixmile region WEST of missoula, montana. For decades, public agencies, conservation organizations, and citizens have voiced concern about the high rate of wildlife-vehicle collisions on interstate 90 in this AREA. This ecologically important landscape that is bisected by this four- LANE highway is home to intact forest and large mammals such as ELK and grizzly bears. To address the LACK of safe passage for wildlife and motorists along this stretch of road, CLLC leads a coalition called the western montana wildlife connectivity (WMWC) group. In FY25, CLLC LED the collection of wildlife data VIA camera traps, advised state agency staff on the relevant science, and conducted public outreach and education on habitat connectivity threats and solutions. Part III, 4b continuation in FY25, CLLC and the network for landscape conservation entered the 6th year of the landscape conservation catalyst fund project. The project awarded its grants in september 2024, totaling more than 460,950, to 15 landscape conservation partnerships throughout the united states. The fund AIMS to accelerate the PACE and practice of collaborative landscape conservation and stewardship across the country. Grants are used to advance partnerships' efforts to protect the ecological, cultural, and community values of the landscapes they CALL home. Grant awards are made to partnerships demonstrating a collaborative approach to conservation, involving a variety of stakeholders and often including historically marginalized communities who have been excluded from land-management decisions. A portion of the fund is specifically dedicated to supporting indigenous leadership in landscape conservation. Throughout FY25, CLLC also continued as a fiscal sponsor for the united states biosphere network (USBN), which represents the country's 28 biosphere regions. CLLC is lending its science, policy, and capacity- building expertise to help strengthen the network by providing them with organizational management and access to other national networks and partnerships. We are also providing communications support by hosting website pages and producing an e-newsletter that is helping connect, inform, and share BEST practices with individuals associated with the biosphere regions. In FY25, in collaboration with the german commission for unesco, USBN created educational programs focused on healthy food, healthy people and a healthy environment. The USBN's sustainable food and environmental education pilot program supported five us biospheres to create or expand these programs. Part III 4c continuation in FY25, CLLC advanced several projects that extend across national boundaries. For instance, CLLC continued its commitment to conserving habitat and ensuring safe passage for asian elephants as the rapid expansion of roads, railways, and other infrastructure across ASIA creates deadly collision risks and blocks migration routes. Building on the 2024 release of the first-ever elephant-specific handbook-developed with partners in the asian elephant transport working group to help countries reduce collisions and maintain elephant movement-we have been delivering hands-on training in the species' range countries. In spring 2025, CLLC staff traveled to bhutan and malaysia to lead workshops on applying the handbook to mitigate the impacts of roads and railways on asian elephants, guiding participants in reducing infrastructure impacts and designing effective elephant crossings. Along the remote turkmenistan-uzbekistan border, the kugitang mountains are home to fragile ecosystems and unique species. CLLC has LED a multi-year, collaborative effort to strengthen protected AREA management and connectivity in this region. One focus of the project was improving wildlife monitoring using the smart (spatial monitoring and reporting tool) system to help rangers track patrols, species sightings, and illegal activity. Following the adoption of the tool across the national protected AREA system in turkmenistan, CLLC organized a training for 20 rangers in uzbekistan in december 2025, and smart is now used in the adjacent surkhan state nature reserve. This cooperation is also advancing a joint unesco world heritage nomination for the transboundary kugitang mountains, recognizing them as an outstanding site for long-term conservation. Urban centers and communities surrounding the SNOW leopard's high-mountain habitat in south and central ASIA are becoming increasingly fragmented by infrastructure development. This poses a threat to the habitat and movement of SNOW leopards, which are adapted to remote, sprawling ranges. The global SNOW leopard and ecosystem protection program (gslep), an alliance of the 12 countries comprising the SNOW leopard's range, formed a working group of scientists and conservationists, including from CLLC, to create guidance for how infrastructure development CAN integrate protections for these RARE big CATS. The working group authored a document outlining specific recommendations, guiding the future of linear infrastructure development in SNOW leopard landscapes, and presented it at the gslep meeting in JUNE 2025, attended by representatives from the 12 range countries.
In care of GARY M Tabor
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