Reimagining the American West to Reach Half-Earth

Abstract

National parks require improved connectivity and resilience, especially in the midst of climate change (Haddad et al., 2015; Jenkins et al., 2015; Williams, 2016). Biodiversity losses and encroaching human-modifications are widely documented inside parks and outside their greater ecosystems. This study reimagined the reserve system in the American West to help address this need. A coarse-scale model for identifying the greater ecosystem surrounding parks was first created, in order to determine the permeability of park units, the ecosystems they represent, and how protected they are. Then, two scenic trails that traverse from Mexico to Canada were evaluated to determine if they are potential green infrastructure for wildlife movements in the midst of climatic shifts and human expansions.