- Metric Name:  Habitat Connectivity

- Data Vintage:  last updated 08/21/2019

- Unit Of Measure: Categorical; 5 (listed above)

The Terrestrial Connectivity dataset is one of the four key components of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) Areas of Conservation Emphasis (ACE) suite of terrestrial conservation information. The dataset summarizes the relative abilty of a species to move across the landscape between patches of suitable habitat. It shows a compilation of linkages, corridors, and natural landscape blocks identified in statewide and regional connectivity studies. Each hexagon (2.5 mi2) is ranked into one of the following categories based on the identification of corridors and linkages in statewide, regional, and species-movement studies:

- 5: Irreplicable and Essential Corridors - The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Omniscape model identifies channelized areas and priority species movement corridors. The mapped channelized areas are those areas where surrounding land use and barriers are expected to funnel, or concentrate, animal movement. These areas may represent the last available connection(s) between two areas, making them high priority for conservation.

- 4: Conservation Planning Linkages - Habitat connectivity linkages are often based on species-specific models and represent the best connections between core natural areas to maintain habitat connectivity. Linkages have more implementation flexibility than irreplaceable and essential corridors; any linkage areas not included in rank 5 are included here.

- 3: Connections with Implementation Flexibility - Areas identified as having connectivity importance but not identified as channelized areas, species corridors or habitat linkage at this time. Future changes in surrounding land use or regional specific information may alter the connectivity rank. Included in this category are areas mapped in the TNC Omniscape study as ‘intensified’, core habitat areas, and areas on the periphery of mapped habitat linkages.

- 2: Large Natural Habitat Areas - Large blocks of natural habitat (> 2000 acres) where connectivity is generally intact. This includes natural landscape blocks from the 2010 CEHC and updated with the 2016 Statewide Intactness dataset. Areas mapped as CEHC NLB and not include in the previous ranks, are included here.

- 1: Limited Connectivity Opportunity - Areas where land use may limit options for providing connectivity (e.g., agriculture, urban) or no connectivity importance has been identified in models. Includes lakes. Some DOD lands are also in this category because they have been excluded from models due to lack of conservation opportunity, although they may provide important connectivity habitat.

Creation Method: Developed by CDFW, the Terrestrial Connectivity dataset summarizes information on terrestrial connectivity by ACE hexagon (2.5 mi2) including the presence of mapped corridors or linkages and the juxtaposition to large, contiguous, natural areas. This dataset was developed to support conservation planning efforts by allowing the user to spatially evaluate the relative contribution of an area to terrestrial connectivity based on the results of statewide, regional, and other connectivity analyses. This map builds on the 2010 California Essential Habitat Connectivity (CEHC) map, based on guidance given in the 2010 CEHC report. The data are summarized by ACE hexagon.

The ACE Terrestrial Connectivity polygon has been converted to 30m Raster and the connectivity description attribute (HabDesc) is classified into the five connectivity ranks (detailed above).

- Credits:  California Department of Fish and Wildlife; Terrestrial Connectivity, Areas of Conservation Emphasis (ACE), version 3.1 last updated 08/21/2019

Terrestrial Connectivity, Areas of Conservation Emphasis (ACE), version 3.1. Last updated 08/21/2019.The Terrestrial Connectivity dataset is one of the four key components of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) Areas of Conservation Emphasis (ACE) suite of terrestrial conservation information: 
Data disclaimer:  
The State makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or adequacy of these data and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in these data. No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from computer virus, is given with respect to these data.