-MODULE 8CONNECTIVITY CONSERVATION - INTRODUCTION
EXERCISE 1
Conveying Understanding of Basic Principles and Concepts of
Connectivity Conservation
OBJECTIVES AND INSTRUCTIONS
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Nature of the Exercise
o Knowledge-reinforcing exercise
o Individual/partner exercise
o Discussion forum
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Purpose of the Exercise
o Enable Learners to entrench their understanding of basic principles and
concepts of connectivity conservation.
o Improve Learners’ capacity to explain basic principles and concepts of
connectivity conservation to others.
o Provide Learners with an opportunity to illustrate their understanding of
basic principles and concepts of connectivity conservation to others and
enhance their communication skills.
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Structure of the Exercise
o Introduction to exercise (suggested time allocation, 5 minutes)
o Individual work (suggested time allocation, 30 minutes)
o Partner work (suggested time allocation, 30 minutes)
o Joint class discussion (suggested time allocation, 55 minutes)
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Methodology/Procedure
o Introduction to the Exercise - facilitated by the pre-prepared presentation
(suggested time allocation, 5 minutes)
 Provide each Learner with a copy of the definitions and descriptions
of basic landscape ecology concepts that apply to connectivity
conservation (Annex A). These definitions and descriptions are
either given on the slides of the seminar presentation or they are
explained in the Notes for Educator. They are adapted from the
information in The Legal Aspects of Connectivity Conservation.
 Explain the purpose of the exercise and what to do.
 Distribute paper to each Learner.
o
Individual work (suggested time allocation, 30 minutes)
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Explain that each Learner should think about the explanations and
discussion of these concepts during the seminar presentation.
Instruct the Learners to produce a drawing or diagram that
illustrates at least three of the concepts described in Annex A.
The drawings or diagrams may be based on actual examples from
the Learners’ own countries or jurisdictions or may be hypothetical.
The Educator should rotate among the Learners with a view to
answering questions and stimulating discussion.
Highlight to the Learners that there is no one correct answer and
that the purpose of the exercise is to think laterally and creatively.
o
Partner work (suggested time allocation, 30 minutes)
 Each Learner will then be paired with another Learner.
 Each partner will in turn explain his/her drawing or diagram to the
other partner, describing the connectivity conservation concepts
illustrated.
 The Educator should rotate among the pairs of partners with a view
to answering queries and stimulating discussion.
o
Joint Class Discussion (suggested time allocation, 55 minutes)
 The Learners will then come together as a group and the Educator
will ask for volunteers or select up to five Learners to present their
drawings or diagrams to the entire group and describe the
connectivity conservation concepts illustrated (5 x approximately
10 minutes = 50 minutes + 5 minutes to conclude the exercise =
suggested time allocation, 55 minutes).
 The Educator will encourage Learners to engage each other with a
view to critiquing and improving each other’s illustrations and
descriptions of these concepts.
RESOURCES
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Introductory presentation
Annex A - The Task, with Definitions and Descriptions of Basic Landscape
Ecology Concepts that Apply to Connectivity Conservation
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ANNEX A – THE TASK
YOUR TASK
 Individual work (30 minutes)
Create at least one drawing or diagram that illustrates at least three of the
concepts described below. Your drawing or diagram may be based on actual
examples from your own country or may be hypothetical.
 Partner work (30 minutes)
You will work with one or two others. Each of you will explain his/her drawing or
diagram to the other partner(s), describing the connectivity conservation concepts
illustrated.
 Joint class discussion
Five volunteers, or five people the Educator selects, will present and explain their
drawing or diagram.
There are no ‘correct’ answers for this exercise. The purpose is to encourage you
to think creatively about these concepts and how they operate in practice.
DEFINITIONS AND DESCRITIONS OF BASIC LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY
CONCEPTS THAT APPLY TO CONNECTIVITY CONSERVATION
Ecological processes: include biological, physical, and chemical processes that
sustain ecological systems and life as we know it. These processes include water
flows and movement, nutrient recycling, sediment movement and predator-prey
(food chain) relationships. Ecological processes are part of a functioning ecosystem
and together with the physical conditions present (depth of water, soil type,
temperature of air)) make up the ecological function of an area. Collectively,
ecological processes produce organic matter using energy through photosynthesis
and chemosynthesis, transfer carbon and nutrients through food webs and through
decomposition, drive soil formation, and enable the production of organisms, for
example, by pollination of plants by insects. Ecological processes influence the
extent, distribution and biodiversity of systems.
Ecosystem approach: is a strategy for the integrated management of land, water
and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable
way. It is based on the application of appropriate scientific methodologies focused
on levels of biological organization which encompass the essential processes,
functions and interactions among organisms and their environment. It recognizes
that humans, with their cultural diversity, are an integral component of
ecosystems.
Ecosystem restoration: is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem
that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed. Ecosystem restoration should be
an important component of conservation and sustainable development programmes
so that the livelihoods of people depending on degraded ecosystems can be
sustained. Ecosystem restoration is a significant contribution to the application of
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the ecosystem approach, informing the negotiation of land use options and
enhancement of healthy ecological networks.
Species population: is a group of individuals of the same species that live in the
same geographical area. In simplest terms, species are the different kinds of
organisms found on Earth. A particular species is defined as a group of organisms
capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.
Metapopulation: is a population of the same species that survives in a series of
disconnected habitat patches.
Habitat: is an area which provides the combination of resources and environmental
conditions that promotes occupancy by individuals of a given species and allows
those individuals to survive and reproduce.
Habitat fragmentation: is the reduction and isolation of patches of natural
ecosystems, including landscape transformations, that break large habitat into
smaller patches.
Patch: is a relatively homogeneous area that differs from its surroundings.
Landscape corridor: is a mosaic of contiguous natural cover that allows
movement between habitat patches or protected areas.
Linear corridor: is a strip of land, often narrow, that provides connectivity
between habitat fragments for target species.
Stepping stone corridor: is one or more separate patches between core protected
areas.
Matrix: is the background ecosystem of land-use type in which patches and
corridors are located.
Mosaic: is the broader landscape in which matrices are located.
Landscape connectivity: is the human perspective of connectedness of patterns
of vegetation cover and environmental flows within a landscape.
Habitat connectivity: is the connectedness between patches of habitat suitable
for a particular species; localized, regional, continental or even global in scope for
migratory species.
Ecological connectivity: is the connectedness of ecological processes across
many scales of air, water, and land, including trophic relationships, disturbance
processes and hydro-ecological flows.
Evolutionary process connectivity: is the natural evolutionary processes that
need suitable habitat on a large scale and connectivity to permit gene flow and
range expansion.
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Scale: is the most defining aspect of connectivity. It Influences the ecological
processes that can be maintained or restored.
The scale of a connectivity
conservation area is influenced by:
• The nature of the problem to be addressed
• Extent of existing barriers to connectivity
• Conservation objectives
• Specific species’ needs
• The institutions involved.
Spatial scale: is the geographic extent of a connectivity conservation area. Large
spatial scale connectivity is important because it permits the incorporation of
broader ecosystem processes and long-term impacts, such as climate change.
Temporal scale: is the amount of time that a connectivity conservation area
requires to meet the objectives for which it is created. The amount of time could
be seasonal, annual, or multi-year, or a combination of these for a large spatial
scale connectivity conservation area.
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