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Restoring Connectivity in Fragmented Habitats

Each NRTG course includes free, lifetime admission. Enrol once – come back anytime.

Description

NRTG’s Restoring Connectivity in Fragmented Habitats is a three-day course that examines how human development fragments natural landscapes and what restoration practitioners can do to restore habitat connectivity for wildlife. Through interactive instruction and applied learning, you will develop a practical understanding of fragmentation causes, ecological consequences, and restoration strategies. 

The course covers the ecological significance of habitat connectivity, including edge effects, migration, metapopulations, and the rescue effect, and examines how major developments such as roads, urbanization, agriculture, and resource extraction reduce connectivity and affect wildlife movement and ecosystem function. You will differentiate between endogenous and exogenous causes of fragmentation and evaluate strategies to restore connectivity. 

Graduates will leave with a solid understanding of habitat fragmentation and connectivity restoration strategies and the practical foundations to support their work in restoration contexts. Completing this course counts towards Habitat Restoration Technician Program certification once the remaining courses are completed. 

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, you will be able to:   

  1. Explain the ecological significance of habitat connectivity, including edge effects, migration, access to multiple habitat types, metapopulations, and rescue effect.  
  2. Differentiate between endogenous and exogenous causes of habitat fragmentation. 
  3. Identify and explain how major human developments reduce habitat connectivity and affect wildlife movement and ecosystem function.  
  4. Summarize strategies to restore and mitigate habitat fragmentation. 

Certification 

This course is assessed on attendance, assignments, and participation. To earn your certificate of completion you must meet all three requirements: 

  • Attendance: 90% of course time 
  • Assignments: Average 70% across assignments 
  • Participation: Average 60% across the course days 

Your certificate of completion is required to claim your SER CECs and count towards your Habitat Restoration Technician Program certification. 

Prerequisites 

No formal credentials required to register. A basic understanding of field practices (e.g., plant identification, wildlife signs, experience around running water) and ecosystem functions is recommended.  

If you are starting from scratch, consider completing NRTG’s Environmental Field Skills Program or Land Guardian Program. Either will give you a solid foundation before you begin the course. 

Who attends?

This course is for you if you work in or near fragmented natural areas and want practical training in restoring habitat connectivity. You are a good fit if you:  

  • Work on or near land, water, or ecosystems as part of your job or community role  
  • Are an Indigenous land guardian, watchman, or community member involved in stewarding your territory  
  • Work in environmental consulting, natural resources, or industry and need applied restoration skills  
  • Have field experience but no formal restoration training and want credentials to back it up  
  • Are looking to move into restoration work and need a recognized certification to get started 

What should I bring or supply? 

You will need: 

  • Computer 
  • Stable internet access 
  • Pen and paper 

Instructor Profiles

Charity Blaney, M.Sc., Wildlife Ecologist 

Charity has spent the last several years studying long toed salamander ecology in the Rocky Mountains of Southwestern Alberta. Her career stems from a passion for all things nature which began at an early age roaming the forests, rivers, and mountains of Northern British Columbia. Before university, she worked as a wilderness mountain guide and thrived being surrounded by wildlife such as wolves, grizzly bears, and wolverines for weeks at a time, always wanting to know more about how they lived. Since then she has studied rainforest plants from a remote field station in Brazil, worked for a number of municipalities in invasive plant control, taught ecology labs at the University of Calgary, and botany and forest ecology at Northern Lights College. She loves her work as an instructor with NRTG for the opportunity to share her interests with others.   

 

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