{ "culture": "en-US", "name": "", "guid": "", "catalogPath": "", "snippet": "Priority Wildlife Connectivity Areas (PWCAs) are an interconnected network representing the parts of the landscape with the highest overall value for facilitating wildlife movement in Oregon. Priority Wildlife Connectivity Areas are an informational tool to guide the work of all entities engaged in land, wildlife, and other natural resource conservation and management, including state, federal, county, and local governmental organizations, sportsmen\u2019s organizations, conservation groups, NGOs, developers, and private landowners interested in restoring, enhancing, protecting, or avoiding disturbance of habitat important for wildlife connectivity. Priority Wildlife Connectivity Areas are not regulatory and do not dictate land use for any public or private entity. \n\nPriority Wildlife Connectivity Areas were developed as part of the Oregon Connectivity Assessment and Mapping Project (OCAMP), 2019-2022. OCAMP was a collaborative effort to analyze and map statewide wildlife habitat connectivity at fine resolutions for 54 native species. OCAMP identified current wildlife habitat connectivity throughout the state for a wide diversity of species, representing a variety of taxa, movement types, dispersal capabilities, and sensitivity to anthropogenic threats. These species\u2019 connectivity models were prioritized and compiled to highlight PWCAs for all species in Oregon. \n\n\nPrimary contact: Rachel Wheat, Wildlife Connectivity Coordinator, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Rachel.E.WHEAT@odfw.oregon.gov", "description": "

This layer highlights Priority Wildlife Connectivity Areas in Oregon. Priority Wildlife Connectivity Areas (PWCAs) represent the parts of the landscape with the highest overall value for facilitating wildlife movement. This interconnected network of PWCAs was developed by extracting the top 1% of priority connectivity areas for all 54 OCAMP species and linking these areas using an optimal network analysis, with an emphasis on high-priority areas (i.e., the top 2% of priority areas were preferred over the top 3%, which were preferred over the top 4%, etc.) as well as climate refugia and permanent streams/riparian climate corridors. Habitat not included in PWCAs may still represent quality wildlife habitat, and may still have value for wildlife connectivity. PWCAs were not delineated within GAP Status 1 lands (Designated Wilderness Areas and Crater Lake National Park). <\/SPAN><\/P>

PWCA Types:<\/SPAN><\/P>

Regions<\/SPAN><\/SPAN> were delineated from the combined top 1% of priorities across all 54 surrogate species selected for the connectivity analysis. Regions are large, contiguous areas and represent the highest-value habitat for facilitating species movement throughout the state.<\/SPAN><\/P>

Connectors<\/SPAN><\/SPAN> follow the optimal pathways between Regions. Connectors represent the best available habitat for facilitating movement from Region to Region. Connectors may pass through high-quality habitat in intact, relatively undisturbed parts of the landscape, as well as the best remaining marginal habitat in developed or degraded areas.<\/SPAN><\/P>

Steppingstones <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>are individual or small groups of isolated hexagons within urban growth boundaries. Steppingstones represent remnant areas of intact habitat within otherwise developed landscapes that may help facilitate wildlife movement through urban areas.<\/SPAN><\/P>

For more detailed information on PWCAs and suggestions for conservation action to benefit wildlife connectivity within each PWCA, please see the PWCA web map: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/6979b6598f904951bd0af1821e1595f1/<\/SPAN><\/P>

For more information on the methodology used to delineate PWCAs, please see the PWCA web page on the Oregon Conservation Strategy website: <\/SPAN><\/P>

https://oregonconservationstrategy.org/success-story/priority-wildlife-connectivity-areas-pwcas/<\/SPAN><\/P><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV>", "summary": "Priority Wildlife Connectivity Areas (PWCAs) are an interconnected network representing the parts of the landscape with the highest overall value for facilitating wildlife movement in Oregon. Priority Wildlife Connectivity Areas are an informational tool to guide the work of all entities engaged in land, wildlife, and other natural resource conservation and management, including state, federal, county, and local governmental organizations, sportsmen\u2019s organizations, conservation groups, NGOs, developers, and private landowners interested in restoring, enhancing, protecting, or avoiding disturbance of habitat important for wildlife connectivity. Priority Wildlife Connectivity Areas are not regulatory and do not dictate land use for any public or private entity. \n\nPriority Wildlife Connectivity Areas were developed as part of the Oregon Connectivity Assessment and Mapping Project (OCAMP), 2019-2022. OCAMP was a collaborative effort to analyze and map statewide wildlife habitat connectivity at fine resolutions for 54 native species. OCAMP identified current wildlife habitat connectivity throughout the state for a wide diversity of species, representing a variety of taxa, movement types, dispersal capabilities, and sensitivity to anthropogenic threats. These species\u2019 connectivity models were prioritized and compiled to highlight PWCAs for all species in Oregon. \n\n\nPrimary contact: Rachel Wheat, Wildlife Connectivity Coordinator, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Rachel.E.WHEAT@odfw.oregon.gov", "title": "ODFW Priority Wildlife Connectivity Areas", "tags": [ "Priority Wildlife Connectivity Areas", "PWCAs", "ODFW", "Oregon Conservation Strategy", "Oregon", "OCAMP", "wildlife" ], "type": "", "typeKeywords": [], "thumbnail": "", "url": "", "minScale": 5000000, "maxScale": 5000, "spatialReference": "", "accessInformation": "Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2023", "licenseInfo": "

These data are a product of the Oregon Connectivity Assessment and Mapping Project (OCAMP), developed to model habitat permeability, landscape resistance, Omniscape connectivity, and priority connectivity areas for Oregon's wildlife. Every effort was made to use best available data and model real-world conditions, but there are instances where decisions have been made within these data with an emphasis on OCAMP project goals, which may deviate from species-specific considerations. Please see the OCAMP Technical Report (https://oregonconservationstrategy.org/media/OCAMP-Technical-Report.pdf) for more information on project limitations. <\/SPAN><\/P><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV>" }