ACA’s conservation strategy : an innovative scientific approach

The Appalachian Corridor's conservation strategy is based on the design of protected areas and the most up-to-date principles in the field of conservation science with regard to the management of natural areas.

This design includes :

• a conservation "core area" large enough to ensure the survival of all representative species of the natural region and to protect all its ecosystems.
  
  
• Buffer zones around these core areas also ensure conservation of natural areas, while allowing numerous uses that do not compromise the ecological integrity of these areas.
  
  
• Corridors that link these core areas are also an integral part of the conservation strategy, since they help maintain connectivity, an essential function to the viability of animal populations since they allow animals to travel, increase their feeding range and favour genetic diversity.

The Concrete Application of Scientific Principles

ACA's conservation initiatives are based on the acquisition of knowledge. surveys of natural areas allow ACA to inventory and analyze the wildlife and plant species found there, particularly vulnerable or endangered species. This scientific analysis is by a Geographic Information System (GIS), which helps identify priority areas for conservation within the Appalachian Corridor territory and takes into account methodologies and results of national and international strategies aimed at preserving biodiversity.

At the request of conservation organizations and landowners, ACA biologists conduct evaluations on properties targeted for conservation actions. The resulting data allow the biologists to determine the exceptional value of certain areas, and this information is integrated into conservation plans aimed at determining the zones to be protected and the uses allowed within each zone. These plans allow landowners to choose the appropriate conservation tools.