PRIORITIZING PARCELS FOR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS USING LEAST-COST PATH ANALYSES OF LAND OWNERSHIP: CASE STUDY WITHIN THEORIZED GRIZZLY BEAR MIGRATION CORRIDORS OF WESTERN MONTANA

Author

Joseph H. Offer, University of Montana, MissoulaFollow

Year of Award

2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Name

Geography (Community and Environmental Planning Option)

Department or School/College

Geography

Committee Chair

Dr. David Shively

Commitee Members

Dr. Alex Metcalf, Mr. Kevin McManigal, Dr. Jeremy Sage

Keywords

Conservation Easements, Grizzly Bears, Conservation Corridor, Least Cost Pathway

Publisher

University of Montana

Subject Categories

Geographic Information Sciences | Geography | Natural Resources and Conservation | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Physical and Environmental Geography

Abstract

As the world’s human population has grown and converted large natural habitats to human dominated landscapes, the planet’s biodiversity has decreased. To combat the loss of biodiversity from human development, many conservation professionals champion the concept of conservation corridors between intact habitats. Conservation corridors, made up of protected land, serve as a connection for wildlife populations to intermix genetics and, subsequently, help reduce the risk of extinction. The ideal geographic location of corridors is generally determined through geographic information system modeling using biophysical conditions and theorized animal movement. However, the resulting corridors are often expansive and protecting entire corridors is usually impossible. Therefore, determining where conservation actions, such as placing a conservation easement on a private parcel, have the most opportunity for connecting landscapes is key to maximizing benefits with limited resources.

This study examines how public land can be considered as protected habitat, due to federal mandates, and serve as a facilitating factor for establishing conservation corridors with conservation easements on private parcels. It utilizes least cost pathway analyses within theorized grizzly bear migration corridors of western Montana to show the potential for conservation easements to provide connectivity of protected lands within conservation corridors. The case study compares differing cost values for varying land ownership types to aid in corridor implementation planning. From the analysis, the resulting least cost pathways show promise for identifying individual private parcels, and therefore specific areas, within the larger wildlife corridor for concentrated conservation action. The approach shows promise for land trusts and other organizations working to place conservation easements on parcels with the highest conservation opportunity to connect large intact landscapes.

Recommended Citation

Offer, Joseph H., "PRIORITIZING PARCELS FOR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS USING LEAST-COST PATH ANALYSES OF LAND OWNERSHIP: CASE STUDY WITHIN THEORIZED GRIZZLY BEAR MIGRATION CORRIDORS OF WESTERN MONTANA" (2020). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 11660.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/11660