WildCon – Connectivity for future-proof natural environments

Sustainable development, as formulated in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), requires the preservation of biodiversity. Central European landscapes are characterized by shrinking habitats for various wildlife species, reduced habitat suitability, and increasing fragmentation. A functioning and sufficient gene flow is essential for the long-term survival of wildlife populations. So far, the functional connectivity has been insufficiently considered in landscape planning and management processes. Nearly half of Austria's national territory is covered by forests, and nearly another one-third consists of agricultural land, which together represent a significant proportion of potential wildlife habitats. Management measures on these areas determine the quality of habitats but also play a crucial role in shaping connectivity between usable habitat areas and opportunities for gene flow. Efforts to increase the resilience of forest ecosystems and numerous ecosystem services require complex decision-making and management situations for land managers. Therefore, integrative studies are needed to examine the landscape structure in terms of existing landscape connectivity and to provide decision-making tools for land managers in a usable form. The aim of this study is to model the distribution of potential wildlife habitats and their functional connectivity in selected regions. We focus particularly on: (1) The functional connectivity of various animal species on a fine spatial scale, (2) The impacts of current landscape features and existing infrastructure on connectivity, and (3) Supporting habitat managers in their management decisions by making our models available to stakeholders.