E-Connections Newsletter - March 2010

I was thrilled to learn in late February about Australia's official establishment of a continental-scale corridor for wildlife that rivals the size of the Yellowstone to Yukon region. This gives us great hope for our success as large landscape conservation is being recognized more and more as a legitimate activity for conserving biodiversity and preparing for climate change.

• Large-landscape conservation Australia style: Stretching 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles) from the coast of the Northern Territory, the Trans-Australian Eco-Link is designed to help Australian wildlife cope with impacts of climate change like changing rain patterns, fire and drought by giving them improved habitat to live in, as well as the ability to move to different areas when threatened. The project involves both public and private lands and includes financial incentives for private landowners to preserve native habitats, with a goal of maintaining or restoring connectivity between protected areas.
  
  
• Save the Flathead River Valley: Y2Y was pleased when British Columbia recently announced a ban on mining, oil, gas and coalbed methane exploration and development in the Flathead and made a commitment to work more closely with Montana to steward the transboundary ecosystem in the Crown of the Continent. This brings our partners one step closer to preserving this vital corridor for wildlife through the Rocky Mountains. Take a tour of the Flathead through this video link.