| In southern California, ecological networks established under California's Natural Communities Conservation Planning (NCCP) program have been developed in response to the widespread habitat fragmentation in the region. Over longer time scales, and in the face of changing environmental conditions, connectivity will also prove critical for facilitating range shifts in response to landscape changes caused by development, changing climate, and altered disturbance regimes. In association with California's Department of Transportation (CalTrans), a recent study looked at wildlife movement along Highway 67 in San Diego's backcountry. State Route 67 is the main thoroughfare in and out of the community of Ramona, and safe crossings for wildlife are a major concern as the conserved lands and native habitats adjacent to the road mean that a lot of wildlife lives in close proximity. Collecting information about the existing culvert structures, investigating roadkill, and using previously collected data on bobcat movement will help inform planning efforts on their currently proposed median barrier project and eventually on the planning for the widening of the highway in the future. This information coupled with considerations of climate change impacts on key variables that support connectivity viability will support establishment of feasible and adaptive approaches to retain landscape connectivity and resiliency and will support biodiversity within NCCP networks and across the region. The decision support guide developed in cooperation with partner agencies will identify tangible and feasible actions to improve connectivity and enhance climate resiliency in San Diego's and the region's conservation network. |