A
conservation network is a system of land and water that is
managed for the primary purpose of conserving the representative ecological
attributes of a region. A conservation network may include lands that
are used for other purposes, like recreation, agriculture, or forestry,
as long as the ecological values are given special consideration,
and the overall configuration of the network accommodates the needs
of native species.
The design plan for the network acts as a blueprint for land use planners,
conservation organizations, and government agencies that highlights
conservation priorities and guides decisions on land use and management.
It determines what lands should be managed for ecological values and
where development should and should not occur.
The underlying goal of conservation networks is habitat
and ecosystem conservation through protection and management
of an interconnected network of natural habitats, including
forests, grasslands, wetlands, streams, and rivers, that support
native species and sustain the natural processes that clean
our water and air and maintain thriving, diverse, natural ecosystems.
Some conservation networks have other goals in addition to habitat
and ecosystem conservation, including preservation of historic resources and public
access/recreation.
Conservation networks typically include an area's most ecologically significant habitats,
including the large, intact natural areas sometimes called core areas, and the smaller
natural areas that connect them with each other, sometimes called linkages or stepping
stones.
Conservation networks may also include lands that are used for agriculture, forestry, and
recreation as long as they are managed in a manner that is consistent with ecological
goals. These lands can provide some important conservation values while complementing the
areas of the highest ecological significance.
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