Natural resource management advisory series : note 15: Wildlife corridors

Abstract

This advisory note examines the critical role of wildlife corridors in maintaining biodiversity and ecological processes in North East New South Wales. Wildlife corridors, defined as links of native vegetation connecting larger habitat areas, facilitate animal movement, species migration, and genetic interchange between fragmented populations. The document outlines a three-tiered classification system for corridors: regional (>500m wide), sub-regional (>300m wide), and local corridors (<50m wide), detailing their distinct functions and management requirements. Key management priorities include maintaining vegetation cover, enhancing habitat quality, controlling invasive species, and minimizing barriers to fauna movement. The note introduces the Department of Environment and Conservation's regional-scale Key Habitats and Corridors mapping framework, which provides an integrated planning approach for landscape conservation across public and private lands. While acknowledging that corridors cannot fully compensate for habitat loss, the document emphasizes their importance in supporting viable ecosystems and preventing local species extinctions in increasingly fragmented landscapes. Management recommendations focus on balancing corridor function with other land uses through targeted interventions such as regeneration, weed control, and protection of critical habitat features.