Report on the Staying Connected Initiative (SCI) Biennial Leadership Retreat

Introduction and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

A biennial senior leadership retreat for the Staying Connected Initiative (SCI) was held from October 1-3 at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center in Albany, New York. This report summarizes the key discussions, activities, and outcomes of the event, with a specific focus on the initiative’s contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The SCI is a multi-stakeholder partnership, comprising government, non-government, and academic organizations from the United States and Canada. This collaborative model is fundamental to achieving large-scale environmental objectives.
• SDG 15: Life on Land & SDG 13: Climate Action: The primary mission of the SCI is to conserve, restore, and maintain landscape connectivity across the Northern Appalachian/Acadian Forest region. This work directly addresses the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation, safeguarding biodiversity and enhancing ecosystem resilience to climate change.

Strategic Objectives and Key Activities

The SCI partnership employs a multi-faceted approach to achieve its conservation goals. These strategies align with several key SDGs and involve a range of technical and policy-based tools.

1. Land Conservation and Restoration: Efforts to protect and restore critical habitats and corridors directly support SDG 15 (Life on Land) by working to halt biodiversity loss and restore degraded terrestrial ecosystems.
2. Sustainable Infrastructure and Transportation Solutions: The development of wildlife-friendly infrastructure, such as overpasses and underpasses, and the improvement of culverts through programs like Stream Smart, contribute to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by creating resilient infrastructure that minimizes human-wildlife conflict.
3. Outreach and Policy Integration: The initiative engages in outreach and policy advocacy to integrate connectivity conservation into regional planning. This supports SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) by ensuring that climate adaptation and biodiversity are central to governance and development strategies.

Review of Accomplishments and Regional Contributions

The retreat served as a platform for partners to review progress and share accomplishments from the past two years. Maine Audubon, a founding partner, highlighted its significant contributions to the collective mission.

• Data-Driven Conservation: Accomplishments in roadkill surveys and game camera monitoring provide critical data for conservation planning, directly supporting targets under SDG 15 to protect threatened species.
• Leadership in Sustainable Infrastructure: Maine’s leadership through the Stream Smart program and the MaineDOT Public Map Viewer exemplifies the successful implementation of policies and practices that advance SDG 9 by promoting sustainable and ecologically sound infrastructure.

Field Analysis and Future Outlook

A key component of the retreat was a field trip to Thacher State Park, which provided a practical illustration of a connected landscape mosaic. This landscape, where natural habitats intermingle with human development, serves as a model for achieving a balance between conservation and community needs, a core principle of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

The retreat concluded with a presentation of images from game cameras, showcasing the presence of diverse species such as moose, lynx, and bears within the habitat corridors. This evidence serves as a powerful indicator of the initiative’s success in protecting biodiversity and making tangible progress toward SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The article’s central theme is the conservation and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems. The Staying Connected Initiative (SCI) works to “conserve, restore, and sustain landscape connections” and “safeguard native species from the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation.” This directly aligns with the goal of protecting biodiversity and terrestrial habitats.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The article discusses the development of specific infrastructure to support habitat connectivity. It mentions “transportation solutions,” “culvert surveys,” and plans for “overpasses and underpasses.” This relates to building resilient and sustainable infrastructure that minimizes negative environmental impacts.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The initiative explicitly addresses the challenges posed by climate change. A key goal is to help “safeguard native species from the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation in a changing climate,” which connects the conservation work to climate adaptation and resilience strategies.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article highlights the collaborative nature of the SCI, describing it as a “unique assemblage of government, non-government, and academic partners working together.” This multi-stakeholder partnership model is the core principle of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Targets for SDG 15 (Life on Land)
   • Target 15.1: “By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services…” The SCI’s work on land conservation and restoration to maintain a “connected landscape” directly supports this target.
   • Target 15.5: “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.” The initiative’s efforts to combat habitat fragmentation and protect species like moose, lynx, and bears align with this target.
2. Target for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)
   • Target 9.1: “Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being…” The focus on “transportation solutions” like improved culverts (via the Stream Smart program) and the planning of wildlife overpasses and underpasses represents the development of sustainable infrastructure that considers ecological well-being.
3. Target for SDG 13 (Climate Action)
   • Target 13.2: “Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.” The SCI’s strategy to maintain landscape connections as a way to help species adapt to a “changing climate” is an example of integrating climate change measures into regional conservation planning.
4. Target for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)
   • Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The description of the SCI as a partnership between “government, non-government, and academic partners” from the U.S. and Canada is a direct embodiment of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Roadkill Surveys
   • The article mentions “roadkill surveys” as an integral part of the connectivity work. Data from these surveys can serve as a direct indicator of wildlife mortality on roads and can be used to measure the effectiveness of mitigation efforts like underpasses, thus tracking progress towards Target 15.5.
2. Game Camera Data
   • The use of “game cameras” to capture images of “moose, lynx, bears, bobcats, and more” provides qualitative and quantitative data. The presence, diversity, and movement patterns of these species can serve as an indicator of habitat health and the success of connected landscapes, relevant to Target 15.1 and 15.5.
3. Culvert Surveys and Stream Smart Program
   • The mention of “culvert surveys” and the “Stream Smart program” implies the collection of data on the condition and functionality of stream crossings. The number of culverts assessed or upgraded to allow for fish and wildlife passage is a measurable indicator of progress in restoring freshwater ecosystem connectivity (Target 15.1) and building sustainable infrastructure (Target 9.1).
4. Infrastructure Development
   • The article refers to “plans for overpasses and underpasses.” The number of such structures planned and built is a concrete indicator of investment in sustainable transportation solutions that support biodiversity, directly measuring progress for Target 9.1.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: maineaudubon.org