Connecting the dots

Ecological connectivity is defined as the ‘unimpeded movement of species and the flow of natural processes that sustain life on Earth. This connectivity is negatively impacted by landscape fragmentation, which happens when large habitat patches or lineal features like rivers, are divided into smaller, more isolated fragments. It is primarily caused by urbanisation, intensive agricultural practices and barriers like roads, railways, dams, weirs and locks. These pressures disrupt habitats, threaten biodiversity and hamper climate change adaptation measures. Creating a network of ecological corridors that are properly governed, managed and funded, as well as eliminating or lessening these barriers, could help solve the EU’s landscape fragmentation problem. Several LIFE projects have practical experience in this area. They are important for building a truly coherent Trans-European Nature Network and are helping to restore at least 25 000 km of rivers to be free-flowing – two main goals of the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.