Notes from the Transportation Break-Out Group

Notes taken by Elizabeth R. Williamson

Goal: Capture collective thinking about issues and ideas surrounding wildlife linkage conservation as they pertain to transportation system (rail and roads).

Linkage, as a concept: The group identified a need for linkage to be codified as a concept. They were excited about the priority linkage assessment’s assistance to this end.

Data Accessibility: The group agreed that a constant issue between organizations and agencies is in cooperation and for all groups to be “on the same page”. The group agreed that this issue goes beyond the priority linkage assessment information, and extends to ownership, wildlife habitat and highway information. There was much agreement on the need to improve the accessibility of all the types of information. There was discussion of putting much of this information into a common repository, or centralized location. The Heritage Program was mentioned and discussed.

Expert Opinion, vetting and privacy issues: Before American Wildlands can begin distributing the priority linkage assessment data, the information still needs to be vetted by the expert opinion biologists. AWL needs to determine appropriate coding in order to protect experts; a general agreement that needs to be reviewed is to replace biologist’s name with a user-id.

Adoption of linkage assessment information: While members of the group were excited to have attended this workshop, it was agreed that more information/details about the priority linkage assessment is needed before organizations can begin using it. Individuals agreed that an internet-based interactive map with priority linkage data was a needed tool, as well as possible workshops that would cover the details of the linkage assessment’s methods and appropriate use.

Mini-training/workshops: A few in the group identified the desire for organization-based workshop that would go into greater detail as to the methods to develop the priority linkage assessment data, as well as its proper use. Members of the group also suggested that there be a designated staff to take phone calls in regards to the information and its use.

Role of the Western Governor’s Association: The WGA is working to set the stage in the west to improve our identification and protection of, wildlife linkages that intersect with transportation routes. The wish of the WGA is to help inculcate a general consensus that highway modification to improve wildlife linkage (use of and survival) be a matter of routine; the cooperation between responsible agencies, other organizations and the public.

Railways: Agreement that wildlife linkage and transportation issues is not limited to roadways only, but railroads as well.