About GPEC

Recognizing that cooperation and collaboration across multiple stakeholders, sectors and national boundaries is essential to scale up connectivity action, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), together with key international organizations, launched the Global Partnership on Ecological Connectivity (GPEC) at its 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 14) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in 2024.

What is GPEC?

The Global Partnership on Ecological Connectivity is a multistakeholder network of organizations, institutions and initiatives that facilitates, promotes and implements collective coherent action to maintain, enhance and restore ecological connectivity for the benefit of nature and people across the globe.

Why do we need a partnership for connectivity?

Global efforts and capacity for addressing ecological connectivity on-the ground is both limited and fragmented. There is a need therefore, to scale up support and action in this regard. This partnership approach is particularly important because efforts to conserve ecological connectivity are already underway in many countries and through the activities of numerous international, national, technical and policy organizations.

What do we do?

The Partnership provides a collaborative platform for knowledge and information exchange, supports the development of coherent and effective approaches for scaling up on-the-ground connectivity action, offers technical and policy support, and helps identify priorities for mobilizing funding and activities on the ground.

How do we work?

The Partnership comprises a Steering Committee that oversees the strategic direction and functioning of GPEC and Collaborative Partners. Collaborative Partners are organizations, institutions and initiatives actively engaged in advancing connectivity through on-the-ground action across terrestrial, inland waters, and marine and coastal ecosystems, and who support the delivery of the collective GPEC priorities under the four core areas of the Partnership: Data, Research & Knowledge; Policy & Legislation; Uptake & Implementation and; Awareness &Outreach.

Steering Committe

Steering Committee members are the founding organizations of GPEC that provide oversight and strategic direction to the Partnership and also contribute directly to the implementation of activities.

Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)

CMS is the only global convention specializing in the conservation of migratory species, their habitats and migration routes. CMS brings together the States through which migratory animals pass, the Range States, and lays the legal foundation for internationally coordinated conservation measures throughout a migratory range. Migratory species threatened with extinction are listed on Appendix I of the Convention, with species that need or would significantly benefit from international co-operation listed in Appendix II of the Convention. CMS acts as a framework Convention encouraging Range States to conclude global or regional agreements. Ecological connectivity is essential for the survival of migratory species and is a cross-cutting theme across all of CMS’s work.

The CMS Secretariat is the Convention’s coordinating body, provided and administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The CMS Secretariat is the current chair of the GPEC steering committee.

Center for Large Landscape Conservation (CLLC)

The Center for Large Landscape Conservation advances ecological connectivity for climate resilience worldwide through science, policy, practice, and collaboration. With a network of partners on six continents, CLLC develops science, crafts policy, supports planning, and informs on-the-ground implementation to address a host of environmental challenges and deploy proven solutions that can be scaled and adapted for diverse locations.

 IUCN WCPA Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group (CCSG)

Established in 2016 under the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas,  the Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group is composed of volunteer members from around the world. Members are experts working in government, scientific, academic, non-profit, and business sectors. CCG’s purpose is to serve as the global hub  providing scientific, policy and technical advice that mainstreams connectivity conservation as a nature-based solution to enhance the integrity of protected areas, save biodiversity, and increase resilience to climate change across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems.

UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

A global centre of excellence on biodiversity and nature’s contribution to society and the economy.  UNEP-WCMC works at the interface of science, policy, and practice to tackle the global crisis facing nature and support the transition to a sustainable future for people and the planet.

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF international)

Tackling the most urgent global conservation challenges though on-the-ground and global policy action, WWF international is an independent global conservation organization, formed in 1961 and committed to building a future where people and nature thrive. Aiming to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, WWF international is active through local leadership in over 100 countries. 

Collaborative Partners

Collaborative Partners are organizations, institutions and initiatives responsible for executing or contributing to specific areas of work or projects agreed under the Partnership. Any global, regional or national organization, institution or initiative working on activities that support the delivery of the one or more collective priorities of GPEC, can become a Collaborative Partner.   

Current Collaborative Partners of the Global Partnership on Ecological Connectivity

Donors

The importance of ecological connectivity and the work of the GPEC has been recognized by numerous donors, who have provided generous support to the GPEC.

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of all our Connectivity Contributors,  without which the work of GPEC would not be possible:  

If you would also like to be a Contributor to support Connectivity and be a catalyst for connecting nature, contact us to find out about how you can support the work of GPEC and our Partners.

GPEC Priorities

1.4.1 Data, Research & Knowledge

Effective measures and actions for ecological connectivity need to be grounded in good data but there remains significant gaps that need to be addressed. Such gaps included the identification of basic connectivity processes in yet unmapped or under-researched areas; important habitats; terrestrial, inland water and coastal and marine areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services; and existing and emerging threats.

Advancing more consistent and replicable guidance, methods and tools will also be supported by the Partnership. This will include ongoing monitoring of scientific developments, dissemination and sharing of information, and providing applicable guidance and principles on emerging experience and practices.

Enhanced monitoring and evaluation is also necessary for measuring progress towards meeting ecological connectivity conservation goals. More application of existing and innovative indicators, metrics, and methodologies, as well as comprehensive management and monitoring plans and practices will be supported by the Partnership as key to supporting iterative learning and ongoing adaptive management to enhance effectiveness.

GOAL: Ecosystem connectivity data, knowledge and information is available, readily accessible to all stakeholders and connectivity indicators are widely monitored

• Identify gaps and support data collection to fill gaps on important habitats for, and climate change impacts on, terrestrial, inland water, and marine and coastal CMS listed species
• Consolidate existing migratory route and corridor maps, supporting the development of new ones where gaps exist across terrestrial, inland water and marine and coastal ecosystems and provide guidance on using these maps to support decision-making
• Improve knowledge on the linkages between ecological connectivity and ecosystem services
• Develop and promote a robust connectivity indicator for use in post 2030 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and other fora and support Parties in monitoring existing KMGBF connectivity indicators
• Develop guidance for funders and implementers on the inclusion of connectivity indicators into projects
• Support the new Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) assessment on spatial planning and ecological connectivity as well as other key regional/ global reports related to connectivity

1.4.2 Policy & Legislation

The Partnership aims to support decision-making by facilitating the assessment and improvement of policies and legislation. This will enable the development of more targeted policies, laws, and resources for addressing ecological connectivity in line with global targets and national priorities. It will also promote inclusive and effective governance, community participation and stakeholder involvement, including the private sector, as well as effective policies and management addressing land- and sea-use change.

It will also seek the further integration of ecological connectivity in relevant global and national policy instruments, including assisting countries to prepare and operationalize National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) to achieve the KMGBF and other relevant agreements. Additionally, the Partnership will lead engagement in global policy discussions to elevate ecological connectivity as a focal issue to address climate change, desertification, and restoration.

Goal: Ecological connectivity ambition is integrated and elevated across global and national polices and legislation

• Support the development of guidelines/a framework for the integration of ecological connectivity into national legislation 
• Build on existing technical guidance to further integrate and implement coherent NBSAP (and other national planning processes) connectivity relevant action
• Promote connectivity in global and regional policy fora e.g. RAMSAR; CBD COP’s
• Amplification and action after policy motion adopted at IUCN WCC on “Recognising and Reporting Ecological Corridors”, especially to coordinate with the IUCN and CBD Secretariats to put the resolution into implementation 

1.4.3 Uptake & Implementation

A key objective of the Partnership is to promote the effective implementation of connectivity conservation on the ground. This involves promoting and implementing specific projects, initiatives and activities that translate the Partnership’s strategies and objectives into tangible actions.

To this end, the Partnership will facilitate the operation and development of a wide range of projects aimed at identifying, assessing, prioritizing, planning, and measuring connectivity, including the active design, governance, and management of ecological corridors and networks with considerations emphasized in integrated biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning. It will support the establishment of well-connected protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMS) for structural and functional connectivity. To scale up these efforts, the Partnership will generate case studies and models of existing and emerging initiatives, facilitate project funding, and support and streamline access to financial resources for the realization of impactful projects. The Partnership will engage with key decision-makers and actors to advance capacity and implementation. This includes national and subnational governments, the private sector, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, and nongovernmental organizations.

Goal: Concrete and coherent global action for ecological connectivity is mobilized and scaled up.

• Promote and provide support for the national application of existing connectivity guidelines, in particular IUCN ‘Guidelines for conserving connectivity through ecological networks and corridors’, and identify and promote  successful case studies in their application
• Identify GPEC priority intervention areas for joint fundraising efforts
• Promote the adoption and implementation of key actions on connectivity with the corporate sector 
• Identify and promote ‘flagship’ connectivity projects in priority land/seascapes and collectively as a partnership accelerate investment and effectiveness of implementation
• Develop best practice tool kit for connectivity
• Promote and support on-the-ground actions to enhance ecological connectivity across all regions and ecosystems

1.4.4 Awareness and outreach

The Partnership will engage in raising awareness and disseminating information to increase public understanding of ecological connectivity. This will include building support among a greater diversity of policymakers, the private sector and donors, and encouraging practical and behavioural changes. Such activities will be developing and implementing campaigns, designing and disseminating communication materials such as best practices and success stories, and organising collaborative workshops or other events.

This website will be a central hub to ensure easy access to resources, updates and information about the Partnership’s progress.

Goal: Improved awareness and knowledge across all stakeholder groups about ecological connectivity, its threats, its linkages and importance for achieving global social, environmental and economic priorities

• Identify and develop flagship connectivity knowledge products for dissemination
• Organize trainings/ workshops/webinars for government representatives, public and private sectors, banks and donors, to improve understanding of ecological connectivity generally (e.g. scale, types, biotic and abiotic etc.) and its importance
• Maintain a list of relevant global regional and national events (e.g. IUCN World Conservation Congresses, Conferences of Parties, etc.) for potential participation, collaboration and organize side events and/or larger meetings on connectivity
• Raise awareness of importance of ecological connectivity in delivering critical ecosystem services and the importance of socio-ecological connectivity for building resilient, sustainable, and inclusive landscapes and seascapes
• Increase visibility and awareness of GPEC work and objectives, across all stakeholder groups