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). Each PWCA has a unique name referencing its general location in the state (by ecoregion), the PWCA type, and a numeric identifier. Ecoregions include the Coast Range (CR), Willamette Valley (WV), Klamath Mountains (KM), West Cascades (WC), East Cascades (EC), Columbia Plateau (CP), Blue Mountains (BM), and Northern Basin and Range (NBR). Priority Wildlife Connectivity Areas that straddle or cross two ecoregions are named based on both (e.g., CR/WV). The three types of PWCAs include Regions (R), Connectors (C), and Steppingstones (S).Regions 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.Connectors 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.Steppingstones 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.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/For more information on the methodology used to delineate PWCAs, please see the PWCA web page on the Oregon Conservation Strategy website: https://oregonconservationstrategy.org/success-story/priority-wildlife-connectivity-areas-pwcas/
Copyright Text: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2023