Assessing the regional landscape connectivity for multispecies to coordinate on-the-ground needs for mitigating linear infrastructure impact in Brasov – Prahova region

While many initiatives, studies and projects are focusing only on modelling wildlife connectivity movement, coordinated efforts should help to deliver adaptative solutions for the on-the-ground needs, while helping the planners and involving communities in landscape protection. Multispecies spatial models and maps allow the generalisation of findings across more significant regions and provide insights to maintain, improve or restore landscape connectivity, while individual species could contribute in establishing regions of focus in conservation efforts. Given the challenge of multispecies connectivity, we chose to build single connectivity models through circuit theory for brown bear, wolf, red deer, wild boar and roe deer. Further, we combined best-supported models in a regional cumulative spatial map, on which we identified areas of high importance for connectivity conservation to investigate and mitigate the impact of linear infrastructure. Results for carnivores and their prey species were similar to those obtained from brown bear landscape genetics modelling. Eastern slope facing was a clear preference of multispecies, and we trust this is due to abundant vegetation, food resources, and lack of fragmentation of forest regions. A vital area called Cold River corridor was validated both functional (brown bear) and structural (for carnivores and prey species) by this study and the results from previous research. However, a highway is planned to bisect the Cold River for the first time, and we advocate that the remaining conservation potential of the area should be maintained whenever possible while planning for evolutionary resilience and prioritizing management actions and effective strategies for all the species. Conservation easements could provide protections against development considered together with coordinated efforts for "smart development", and maintenance of existing forest and wildlife management and land uses preservation.