wildlife corridor

A wildlife corridor in Brazil.

A wildlife corridor, also known as a habitat corridor or green corridor, is an area that connects wildlife populations that have been separated by human activities or structures such as industrialization, expansion of agriculture, urbanization, road infrastructure, land clearings, and other development. Corridors mitigate the impacts of habitat fragmentation, meaning the division of habitat areas and restriction of movement, which has been caused by rapid urbanization and transport network expansion. Habitat fragmentation from human development poses a significant threat to biodiversity, and wildlife corridors help to reduce the harmful effects of fragmentation and habitat degradation. By enabling the movement of individuals and populations, wildlife corridors help to prevent the negative effects of inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity that occur in isolated populations. Wildlife corridors also have effects on plant populations by increasing pollen and seed dispersal through animal movement between isolated habitat patches. Additionally, corridors can support wildlife population resilience in the context of climate change adaptation, by connecting areas of warmer habitat to cooler habitat. Human settlements by corridors can allow for human-wildlife conflicts to increase, which requires mitigation measures.