The importance of connected nature in supporting healthy ecosystems, conserving species and enhancing human well-being, is increasingly recognised, and is being integrated into international, national and regional policies as an essential foundation for achieving multiple environmental, social and economic priorities.
United Nations General Assembly
On April 16, 2021, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 75/271 “Nature knows no borders: transboundary cooperation a key factor for biodiversity conservation, restoration and sustainable use.” This resolution stresses the importance of connectivity “.. in order to maintain healthy and intact ecosystems and habitats, which are needed to conserve biodiversity and to ensure that nature can continue to provide ecosystem services to people” and emphasizes the importance of cooperation in avoiding the fragmentation ofhabitats and “.. to maintain and enhance connectivity between ecosystems..”
Over the years, the Convention has taken a number of steps to enhance understanding and delivery in this area. In 2020, CMS COP13, through Resolution 12.7 (Rev.COP13), a definition of ecological connectivity was first approved which was later refined and adopted during CMS COP14 in its first single Resolution specifically on Ecological Connectivity (CMS Res. 14.16). During COP14 the definition of ecological connectivity was slightly modified and the adoption of the Samarkand Strategic Plan for Migratory Species 2024-2032 which includes Goal 2 “habitats and ranges of migratory species are maintained and restored, supporting their connectivity” with Targets 2.1, 2.2. and 2.3 aiming to identify monitor, manage and restore important habitats for migratory species and ensure that these habitats are well-connected and are able to support migratory species throughout their life cycles.
In March 2026, CMS held its Fifteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) in Brazil under the theme “Connecting nature to sustain life”, a revised Resolution 14.16 on Ecological Connectivity that aligns terminology with other MEAs, provides updates on recent developments and ensures a holistic overview of connectivity and its related issues, will be presented for adoption by Parties.
In 2022, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted. Recognising the fundamental importance of ecological connectivity for healthy ecosystems and species, for the first time specific language on connectivity was incorporated into its Goals and Targets. Specifically, Goal A, Target 2-restoration, Target 3- protected and conserved areas and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), and Target 12 – greenspaces and urban planning, incorporate effective and explicit language around ecological connectivity and is further implicit in Target 1-spatial planning.
In July 2025, Parties to the Convention on Wetlands adopted the Fifth Strategic Plan of the Convention on Wetlands 2025-2034 (Resolution XV.3). The Strategy recognises the importance of connected wetlands and includes ecological connectivity explicitly in Goal 3.
“Goal 3: Wetlands of International Importance are recognized, effectively conserved and managed and, through designating sites that qualify, there is an increase in area, numbers, representivity and ecological connectivity across the network of Wetlands of International Importance.”
In May 2022, during the UNCCD Fifteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) COP15 Ministers and Representatives gathered for the high-level segmentwhich resulted in a ‘Land, Life and Legacy’ Declaration. In the Declaration, Parties are encouraged to “…avoid, reduce, and reverse land degradation by accelerating the implementation of existing national commitments to achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030, taking into account the connectivity of ecosystems”.