Ecological corridors are strips or networks of natural habitat that connect isolated patches of landscape, allowing species to move between them. This promotes landscape resilience, mitigates urban fragmentation, supports species migration and movement, and enhances ecosystem services. Management plans for ecological networks define clear goals to manage human activities that maintain, restore and enhance the corridors.
Feasibility & Local Applicability
Making corridors is highly applicable for the islands – as shown by case examples. These can include rooien, salinas, nature areas, mangroves, watershed vegetation, seagrass beds. Corridors are by definition large and comprise multiple habitats and areas, making feasibility challenging, especially when protection and management requires policy and measures to be implemented and maintained. Fragmentation requires land use changes or measures, but many types of green space can be used for corridors including water bodies, parks, and green spaces
Corridors require specific ecological and landscape knowledge to be effective: ‘which species want to move where and how’? These needs define different outcomes like using a rooi as a corridor for migrating land crabs or creating a connection between two lagoons.
Co-benefits
- Establish connective features to sustain ecological processes.
- Facilitate wildlife movement and mitigate urban fragmentation.
- Can work well with urban green spaces.
- Nearby vegetation and animals can stimulate natural regeneration in nearby area’s through seed dispersal and animal interaction.
Costs
Low to high depending on scale of corridor, land use, and management needs.
Case studies & Examples
- Aruba Conservation Foundation (ACF) Terrestrial protected areas conservation management plan
- Aruba’s national biodiversity strategy and action plan (NBSAP)
- Western Wetlands of Aruba
- Bonaire national marine park management plan 2022-2028
- Ecological networks on St.Eustatius