An Aerial Perspective on Landscape Connectivity
The Algonquin to Adirondacks Collaborative is working to create wildlife overpasses to restore connectivity to the area’s wild places. Photo by Catherine Wheeler.
From highways to property boundaries, humans are experts at drawing lines across the landscape. But for wildlife, those lines don’t exist, and the consequences can be deadly. That’s why LightHawk and our partners are taking to the skies to show what’s at stake.
One of those partners, the Algonquin to Adirondacks (A2A) Collaborative, is working to reconnect habitat and strengthen ecological connectivity across the region. Spanning from Ontario’s Algonquin Park to Adirondack Park, through the Frontenac Arch and surrounding lands, the A2A region is one of the last intact natural linkages in Eastern North America. Its forests, wetlands, and waterways support a remarkable diversity of life, from black bears and moose to rare birds and plants.
A recent LightHawk flight, provided by volunteer pilot Adam Goldstein, gave A2A members a new perspective on the Highway 401 corridor in southern Ontario. From above, they captured photos and video that will be used to raise awareness with constituents and policymakers about the urgent need for wildlife crossings.
Charleston Lake and the Thousand Islands are diverse ecosystems A2A is working to protect. Photo by Catherine Wheeler.
The flight allowed partners to capture imagery of the Highway 401 corridor in Southern Ontario. Photo by Catherine Wheeler.
Wildlife crossings act like natural bridges —vegetated overpasses that allow animals to move safely across highways. They protect both people and wildlife, prevent costly collisions, and restore ecological connectivity that keeps biodiversity strong.
The area flown over is one Parks Canada has designated a priority for an ecological corridor. Protecting these priority areas is essential for biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.
After the flight, A2A’s Jess Lax reflected: “The flight made it clearer what an asset the remaining forest cover is and how it connects to Charleston Lake Provincial Park. It also showed us the surprising amount of forest cover that still exists on the Thousand Islands. We gained a new appreciation for how the 401 bisects this continuous forest. The experience also helped us build stronger connections with the reporter who joined us, which is key for our outreach.”
The photos and video collected on the flight will be used by A2A to engage their constituents and policy makers about the need for wildlife crossings. Photo by Catherine Wheeler.
LightHawk is grateful to volunteer pilot Adam Goldstein for providing this cross-border perspective. Thanks to his generosity, our partners gained new insights, new connections, and new tools to advocate for solutions. Together, we’re making an impact for ecosystem connectivity in North America.
Photos by Catherine Wheeler and Jess Lax.