The October volume of Biological Conservation will feature a paper that recaps a modeling study by Brett Dickson, Luke Zachmann, and Christine Albano. The goal of this study was to identify contiguous conservation priority areas (CPAs) on roadless BLM lands based on several key ecological indicators — high biodiversity, resilience to climate change, and landscape connectivity, among others. The CSP team mapped seven ecological indicators across 11 western states, ultimately identifying 117 unique CPAs, mostly located in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Oregon, and Nevada. Many of these CPAs are located near areas of ecological, social, or cultural importance.
The results of this study can help guide stakeholders in landscape conservation and planning efforts. Another important outcome of this study is CSP’s methodology, which can be readily applied to landscapes throughout the U.S and beyond.
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