Resilient and Connected Landscape of Hawaii

Resilience is the ability of a living system to adapt to climate change—moderating damage, seizing opportunities and coping with consequences. The Nature Conservancy’s resilience analysis aims to conserve biodiversity while allowing species and communities to shift as the climate changes.

In Hawai‘i, scientists analyzed eight islands to assess ecological resilience. They treated landscapes—ranging from tropical dry forests and alpine deserts to anchialine pools—as “neighborhoods” where species live. Areas with complex topography and dense wetlands were seen as offering the best chances for species to “move down the block” and find new habitats as their current ones change.

The study also examined landscape permeability, identifying where roads, development and other barriers could prevent species from relocating. By mapping both ecological complexity and connectivity, the analysis helps guide conservation efforts that support long-term adaptation and survival.

Additional Resources

Explore the Data: View the Hawaii Resilient and Connected Network data in the Resilient Land Mapping Tool

Download the Hawaii Resilience Datasets: Download the GIS data for resilience, landscape diversity, local connectedness, and geophysical settings

Download Hawaii Resilient & Connected Landscapes Data: Download the GIS data for resilient and connected landscapes, climate connectivity, biodiversity, and resilience.

Center for Resilient Conservation Science Resilience Website

Citation

Anderson, M.G., Barnett, A., Clark M., Gon, S., Olivero, A., Prince, J., and Tom, S. (2022). Resilient Sites and Connected Landscapes for Terrestrial Conservation in Hawaii. The Nature Conservancy, Center for Resilient Conservation Science.