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Wildlife corridors as a connected subgraph problem

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  • Conrad, Jon M.
  • Gomes, Carla P.
  • van Hoeve, Willem-Jan
  • Sabharwal, Ashish
  • Suter, Jordan F.

Abstract

Wildlife corridors connect areas of biological significance to mitigate the negative ecological impacts of habitat fragmentation. In this article we formalize the optimal corridor design as a connected subgraph problem, which maximizes the amount of suitable habitat in a fully connected parcel network linking core habitat areas, subject to a constraint on the funds available for land acquisition. To solve this challenging computational problem, we propose a hybrid approach that combines graph algorithms with Mixed Integer Programming-based optimization. We apply this technique to the design of corridors for grizzly bears in the U.S. Northern Rockies, illustrating the underlying computational complexities by varying the granularity of the parcels available for acquisition. The approach that is introduced is general and can be applied to other species or other similar problems, such as those occurring in social networks.

Suggested Citation

  • Conrad, Jon M. & Gomes, Carla P. & van Hoeve, Willem-Jan & Sabharwal, Ashish & Suter, Jordan F., 2012. "Wildlife corridors as a connected subgraph problem," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 63(1), pages 1-18.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeeman:v:63:y:2012:i:1:p:1-18
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2011.08.001
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    Cited by:

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    5. Leonard, Bryan & Gigliotti, Laura & Middleton, Arthur & Kroetz, Kailin, 2022. "The Value of Remotely-Sensed Data in Terrestrial Habitat Corridor Design for Large Migratory Species," RFF Working Paper Series 22-21, Resources for the Future.
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    8. Maher, Stephen J. & Murray, John M., 2016. "The unrooted set covering connected subgraph problem differentiating between HIV envelope sequences," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 248(2), pages 668-680.
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    10. Bisera Andrić Gušavac & Selman Karagoz & Milena Popović & Dragan Pamućar & Muhammet Deveci, 2023. "Reconcilement of conflicting goals: a novel operations research-based methodology for environmental management," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(8), pages 7423-7460, August.
    11. Jafari, Nahid & Hearne, John, 2013. "A new method to solve the fully connected Reserve Network Design Problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 231(1), pages 202-209.
    12. Chunguang Hu & Zhiyong Wang & Gaoliu Huang & Yichen Ding, 2022. "Construction, Evaluation, and Optimization of a Regional Ecological Security Pattern Based on MSPA–Circuit Theory Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-22, December.
    13. Önal, Hayri & Wang, Yicheng & Dissanayake, Sahan T.M. & Westervelt, James D., 2016. "Optimal design of compact and functionally contiguous conservation management areas," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 251(3), pages 957-968.
    14. Suter, Jordan & Sahan, Dissanayake & Lynne, Lewis, 2014. "Public Incentives for Conservation on Private Land," 2014 Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2014, Minneapolis, Minnesota 170706, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
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