- Metric Name:  Full Climate Connectivity Network

- Data Vintage:  2021

- Unit Of Measure: Categorical, 4 - See metadata for field definitions

This linkage network is designed to allow for local movements among individual preserves while supporting landscape-scale regional connectivity.Habitat connectivity is the most frequently recommended strategy to support adaptation to climate change, habitat fragmentation, and post-disturbance recolonizations. In southern California, conservation planning efforts have resulted in protected area networks to address widespread habitat fragmentation across the region. These plans are designed to protect biodiversity by establishing networks of core habitats. Connectivity is essential if these networks are to support the long-term goals of protecting biodiversity, particularly as species' ranges are likely to shift in response to climate change.

Creation Method: The Institute of Ecological Monitoring and Management at San Diego State University, funded by California's Wildlife Conservation Board and a State Wildlife Grant from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, developed a landscape linkage network to support connectivity for preservation of biodiversity across southern California under climate and land-use changes. Linkages depicted in this dataset were developed using an ensemble of approaches. First, species distribution models (SDMs) were developed for five focal species under historic conditions and four future climate scenario projections (warmer, wetter, reduced emissions - CNRM-CM5 RCP 4.5; warmer, wetter, business as usual emissions - CNRM-CM5 RCP 8.5; warmer, drier, reduced emissions - MIROC5 RCP 4.5; warmer, drier, business as usual emissions - MIROC5 RCP 8.5). Suitability surfaces resulting from the SDMs were used to identify core habitat areas to be connected and converted to resistance surfaces for least cost corridor connectivity modeling under historic conditions and future periods at decadal intervals. Linkage maps for each species were combined into a single, multispecies linkage network based on a prioritization using a fuzzy-logic based modeling toolbox, Environmental Evaluation and Modeling System 2.02 in ArcGIS (Sheehan and Gough, 2016). Prioritzation was based on linkage importance under future conditions, feasibility of implementation, connectivity and habitat value, and biological importance derived from metapopulation models. The top linkage segments for each species were selected based on the maximum value for any single species, the average value across all five focal species, and the count of focal species represented. These segments were then supplemented with geodiversity linkages representing valley and narrow valley features on the landscape, which were not already identified in the focal species linkage segments. Linkages in the central portion of the network were expanded based on a multispecies maximum and average from Circuitscape modeling which also relied on the resistance surfaces derived from SDM suitability maps for each species. Finally, the network was manually trimmed in areas of recent development and expanded in several urban areas to match up with urban conservation planning efforts such as the Rim of the Valley Plan, the Emerald Necklace Vision, and the Santa Ana River Parkway.For more information on methods and data products, visit the project page to download the full report at http://iemm.sdsu.edu/projects/Climate%20Resilient.html

- Credits:  San Diego State University CWC Project Team

San Diego State University’s Connecting Wildlands and Communities Project Team: 
Data disclaimer:  
The user accepts sole responsibility for the correct interpretation and use of the data provided.