Webinar: Socio-Ecological Connectivity

Socio-Ecological Connectivity – Bridging Land Restoration, Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Action Date: 30 Jun 2026 Time: 16:00 - 17:30 Organised by: The Centre for Large Landscape Conservation (CLLC), The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) Background Land degradation, desertification and fragmentation are accelerating globally, threatening biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being. Ecological connectivity — the unimpeded movement of species, connection of habitats without hinderance and the flow of natural processes that sustain life on Earth — is a critical foundation for resilience in the face of these challenges. The Global Land Outlook (GLO) Thematic Report on Ecological Connectivity, launched at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in 2025, reframes ecological connectivity through a land-systems and restoration lens, demonstrating how restoring degraded lands, managing multifunctional landscapes, and addressing fragmentation can simultaneously advance land, biodiversity, climate, and sustainable development goals. It explores how sustainably managing healthy landscapes and restoring degraded land and water resources can reconnect fragmented ecosystems (‘restore to connect’), while enhancing connectivity can increase landscape resilience to degradation and climate change (‘connect to restore’). This webinar aims to raise awareness of the GLO’s key messages, connect them to on-the-ground examples and global initiatives, and explore how global policy processes can benefit from and reinforce this integrated perspective. Agenda 00:00 Moderator: Gabriel Oppler, International Policy and Partnerships Specialist, CLLC 01:55 Welcoming Remarks by Andy Raine, CMS Executive Secretary 12:02 Presenting the GLO Thematic Report on Ecological Connectivity Insights from the Global Land Outlook Thematic Report on Ecological Connectivity and Land Restoration by Mirja Stoldt, Programme Officer, UNCCD From Concepts to Action Lightning Case Studies: 25:43 Planning for Connectivity for Jaguars in South America by Rafael Antelo, Wildlife Connect Leader, WWF Bolivia 37:05 Trame Verte et Bleue: The Green and Blue Infrastructure Initiative for biodiversity preservation and restoration by Fabien Paquier, Green and Blue Infrastructure Project Manager at the French Biodiversity Agency 45:22 Freshwater connectivity in the Zambezi River Basin: Equitable and sustainable water use for current and future generations by Mwasiti Ally Rashid, Program Manager – Zambezi Strategic Planning at ZAMCOM 57:20 Questions & Answers by Gabriel Oppler Current and Future Policy Directions 1:01:25 Opportunities for aligning UNCCD, CBD, CMS, and IPBES processes: What does stronger recognition of connectivity mean for national policies, targets, and reporting? by Aaron Laur, Manager, International Connectivity Program, CLLC 1:09:40 Accelerating policy coherence through the Global Partnership on Ecological Connectivity (GPEC) by Anouska Kinahan, Coordinator, Global Partnership on Ecological Connectivity 1:19:31 Looking forward to UNCCD COP17 by Sasha Alexander, Policy Officer, UNCCD 1:24:55 Closing and Key Takeaways by Gabriel Oppler #EcologicalConnectivity #landrestoration #wildlifeconservation #GlobalLandOutlook