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68 <br /> RECOMMENDATIONS <br /> To varying degrees, the jurisdictions within the project area have recognized a need to protect connected <br /> natural areas and have devised different policies and strategies to address this need. Each jurisdiction can <br /> work with its existing policy framework, in coordination with other jurisdictions, agencies, and <br /> conservation partners, to use the new information and data described in this report to help protect a <br /> connected network of priority wildlife habitat and corridors. The objectives and strategies recommended <br /> below are provided to help ensure that protection of the priority wildlife habitat-corridor network identified <br /> in this project is incorporated into county, town, and interjurisdictional planning and decision-making <br /> processes within the project area. <br /> COMMIT • LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION <br /> Objective Ensure that landscape conservation and corridor protection for wildlife <br /> habitat connectivity are explicitly supported and funded as a joint priority <br /> across jurisdictions. <br /> The primary strategy recommended for this objective is for the jurisdictions in the project area to pass a <br /> joint resolution including,but not limited to,the following elements: <br /> • Establish landscape conservation and landscape corridor protection for wildlife habitat <br /> connectivity as an overarching principle,goal, or strategy(see also Plan and Adopt). <br /> o Develop consensus on shared definitions of landscape conservation,landscape corridor, <br /> wildlife habitat, and other terms critical for effective interjurisdictional coordination. <br /> • Acknowledge the necessity of interjurisdictional coordination to achieve protection of a <br /> functional landscape habitat-corridor network. <br /> • Commit to enact and fund intra-and interjurisdictional landscape corridor planning,protection, <br /> and coordination. <br /> • Acknowledge the importance of following the best available scientific guidelines for landscape <br /> conservation and corridor protection,including the implementation of effective wildlife crossing <br /> structures, as outlined in NCWRC's Green Growth Toolbox and other comprehensive corridor <br /> planning and protection resources. <br /> FOLLOW <br /> Objective Formally authorize and, if possible, require consultation and use of Green <br /> Growth Toolbox guidelines and other authoritative resources for landscape <br /> conservation and corridor protection, including best available science on <br /> wildlife crossing structures. <br /> Strategies include, for example: <br /> • Prioritize land conservation efforts in critical habitat areas and corridors (as identified, for <br /> example, in this project and verified with ground surveys), around identified pinch points, and in <br /> priority corridor areas under high development pressure. <br /> A Landscape Plan for Wildlife Habitat Connectivity 55 <br />