Wildland habitats of the southern Coast Mountains are living systems of animals and plants that evolve in response to changes in the physical landscape and fluctuating climatic conditions. They have sustained the Coast Salish Peoples since the glaciers retreated from this area more than 10,000 years ago and have remained resilient to change through land-based knowledge and stewardship practices passed down to their descendants. These include the Squamish Nation (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh) and Lillooet Tribal Council (St’át’imc) in the Sea-to-Sky region, as well as the Sechelt Nation (Shíshálh), Tsleil-Waututh Nation (səlilwətaɬ), Musqueam Indian Band (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm), and Stó:lō Nation, in nearby areas of the Sunshine Coast and Fraser Lowland.

Like many densely populated regions worldwide, terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems of the southern Coast Mountains are experiencing increased habitat loss and fragmentation due to the cumulative impacts of a rapidly expanding human footprint and climate change. The scale and pace of these changes are unprecedented. Fragmentation has broken once continuous wildland habitats into isolated patches, increasing the risk of local extinctions and hindering dispersal, migration, and genetic exchange, all of which are necessary for the survival of animal and plant species. Over time, habitat loss and fragmentation compromise the overall resilience and functional integrity of ecosystems, leading to the unravelling of food webs and biodiversity loss.

Ecological connectivity networks offer a means to foster the resilience of rapidly changing landscapes by linking existing protected areas with healthy wildland habitats in regions affected by the cumulative impacts of landscape disturbance and climate change. They are established through dedicated corridor linkages, which are governed through legislation, Indigenous laws, and community stewardship. When integrated across geographic scales and jurisdictional boundaries, these corridors form a connective tissue that enables wildlife to move freely in search of food, shelter, and mates, and supports the flow of natural processes that sustain life on Earth.