Landscape connectivity is the degree to which a landscape promotes movement. Connectivity is a key concept in ecology because better-connected landscapes can support a greater number of species, lower rates of extinction, and facilitate ecological processes, such as hydrology. Not surprisingly, connectivity is also an important consideration for stewardship in fragmented landscapes. But how does connectivity work and what approaches, such as corridors, are available to practitioners looking to promote landscape connectivity? In this talk, we will overview the concept of landscape connectivity and describe approaches for promoting connectivity during landscape-scale stewardship efforts. We will then provide an overview of how connectivity is being incorporated into landscape-scale conservation planning in southwest Michigan, where goals focus on promoting water quality, biological diversity, and resiliency in the face of global change.
Landscape connectivity and conservation: Concepts, approaches, and examples
Presenters
Lars BrudvigMichigan State University
Lars Brudvig is an Associate Professor of Plant Ecology at Michigan State University in the Department of Plant Biology. He teaches introductory biology and restoration ecology at Michigan State and studies the restoration of prairies and oak savannas in Michigan, and longleaf pine woodlands in South Carolina. 
Mitch Lettow
Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy
Mitch LettowSouthwest Michigan Land Conservancy
Mitch Lettow is the stewardship director for the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. There, he works to care for, and connect the community to, a dynamic network of nature preserves. This work runs the conservation gamut of endangered species preservation, ecologicalrestoration, conservation planning, trail development, forest management, and collaborating with volunteers and other organizations.