Display Name: Priority Wildlife Connectivity Areas
Description: This layer highlights Priority Wildlife Connectivity Areas in Oregon. Priority Wildlife Connectivity Areas (PWCAs) represent the parts of the landscape with the highest overall value for facilitating wildlife movement. This interconnected network of PWCAs was developed by extracting the top 1% of priority connectivity areas for all 54 OCAMP species and linking these areas using an optimal network analysis, with an emphasis on high-priority areas (i.e., the top 2% of priority areas were preferred over the top 3%, which were preferred over the top 4%, etc.) as well as climate refugia and permanent streams/riparian climate corridors. Habitat not included in PWCAs may still represent quality wildlife habitat, and may still have value for wildlife connectivity. PWCAs were not delineated within GAP Status 1 lands (Designated Wilderness Areas and Crater Lake National Park). <br><br>Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (2023)