Mapping Climate-Informed Habitat Restoration Priorities with Multi-Sector Benefits

Wildlife and plant species are adapted to specific environmental conditions, but climate change is shifting those conditions, prompting many species to move to more suitable habitats. This movement is a key climate adaptation strategy, yet it is limited by both species’ dispersal abilities and the condition of the surrounding landscape. In the upper Midwest, large areas of row-crop agriculture, roads, and urban development reduce habitat connectivity, constraining species movement. Restoring prairie and forest habitats is essential to rebuild connectivity and support species adaptation.

Beyond ecological benefits, land restoration provides important societal co-benefits, including improved water quality through the reduction of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment runoff; increased carbon storage; and enhanced pollination services. However, restoration is costly, making it critical for practitioners to prioritize locations where benefits are maximized. This project aimed to identify areas where restoration would most effectively enhance habitat connectivity for climate adaptation while also delivering water quality, carbon, and pollination benefits. We used a collaborative process involving Tribal, state, federal, university, and non-governmental partners to model connectivity and ecosystem services for prioritization.

Results identified both prairie and forest restoration opportunities. While ecosystem service benefits are broadly similar between ecosystems, their spatial distribution varies: sediment and nitrogen retention are highest in the south, phosphorus retention in the northwest, and carbon storage and pollination benefits are dispersed. At the regional scale, priority restoration areas were identified by overlapping restorable land with zones of constrained connectivity. At the local scale, analysis in the Root River watershed indicated that prairie connectivity benefits were positively associated with wild bee habitat but negatively correlated with water quality and carbon outcomes. By applying different weighting approaches, specific parcels were identified that deliver multiple benefits. Integrating ecological and social outcomes enables better coordination among organizations and can increase landowner engagement in restoration efforts.

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Regional Connectivity

Restoration Opportunity Areas 

Focal Areas

Ecosystem Services 

Citation: Ahlering, M., Clark M., Hall K, Hawthorne, P., Lonsdorf, E., Nootenboom, C., Anderson, J., Ray, D. (2026). Mapping Climate-Informed Habitat Restoration Priorities with Multi-Sector Benefits. Tri-State Minnesota and Dakotas Chapter and North America Science, The Nature Conservancy.