Proceedings of the Seventh Mountain Lion Workshop

USING COUGARS TO DESIGN A WILDERNESS NETWORK IN CALIFORNIA’S
SOUTH COAST ECOREGION
PAUL BEIER, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA, email:
Paul.Beier@nau.edu
KRISTEEN PENROD, South Coast Wildlands Project, PO Box 2493, Monrovia, CA 91016,
USA, email: Kristeen@scwildlands.org
Abstract: The groundbreaking “Missing Linkages” report published in fall 2001
(www.scwildlands.org) identified over 200 linkages needed to prevent isolation of wildlands in
California. South Coast Wildlands Project (SCWP) immediately spearheaded an effort to
prioritize, protect and (where necessary) restore linkages in the South Coast Ecoregion. SCWP
first assessed the ecoregion’s 69 linkages with respect to biological irreplaceability (size and
quality of core areas served by a linkage were important criteria) and vulnerability (to
urbanization and roads). This process identified 15 linkages as top priorities. We are now in the
process of conducting a series of action workshops for each linkage. At the first workshop, local
biologists, government agencies and conservation NGO representatives developed lists of focal
species and ecological processes that a linkage is intended to serve. Thus, although carnivores
helped to initially identify important linkage areas, we are designing each linkage to serve
broader biodiversity goals. Our personnel are researching the needs of the focal species,
obtaining high-resolution photographs and parcel maps, and conducting field visits. One or more
linkage designs will be presented at a second workshop, where participants will volunteer for
various tasks (e.g., procuring easements, acquiring land, changing zoning, restoring habitat, or
mitigating transportation projects) to preserve and enhance the linkage. By partnering with
agencies and NGOs from the start rather than developing a plan on our own and asking others to
unite under us, our effort has attracted funding and cooperation from diverse sources and is
making rapid progress.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP
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