AlpPlan / PlanToConnect Expert Platform Workshop on Ecological Connectivity

When: 06.10.2025 • Where: Eurac Research, Bolzano (IT)

As a pre-event to the AlpPlan General Assembly and a thematic introduction to the PlanToConnect Final Conference on the following two days, AlpPlan and the PlanToConnect Expert Platform co-hosted a workshop featuring a keynote by Dr. Annika Keeley, Connectivity Science Expert at the Center for Large Landscape Conservation (US). Her presentation, “Introduction to the IUCN Connectivity Guidelines and their Application in Landscapes Around the World,” was moderated by Prof. Dr. Hubert Job.

Dr. Keeley highlighted ecological connectivity as a crucial tool for safeguarding biodiversity and ensuring the continued provision of ecosystem services globally. She offered international perspectives on connectivity, encouraging participants to look beyond the Alpine context and engage in broader discussions.

Her keynote emphasized several key needs and challenges:

• Ecological connectivity is firmly embedded in global policy frameworks.
• The IUCN Connectivity Guidelines call for clearer definitions, greater standardisation, and a shift toward large-scale conservation networks.
• Connectivity is relevant across terrestrial, marine, freshwater, and even aerial environments.
• Connectivity conservation is a fundamental requirement for achieving numerous international conventions and agreements.