Primer for Counties: County Planning for Wildlife Habitat Connectivity
Upcoming Events
Related News
The third report of the National Center for Public Lands Counties (NCPLC) provides foundational information on wildlife habitat connectivity for public lands county leaders including an introduction to the wildlife habitat connectivity concept, an overview of the land use planning tools counties can use to reduce human-wildlife conflict and an examination of county authority and the role counties play as intergovernmental partners in wildlife habitat connectivity planning.
As stewards of landscapes where federal public lands and private development intersect, public lands counties face growing pressure to manage wildlife habitat connectivity with limited planning resources and tools. Wildlife habitat fragmentation drives vehicle-wildlife collisions that cost the nation more than $8 billion annually, strain local emergency response and undermine the outdoor recreation and hunting economies that many public lands counties depend on. Understanding the land use planning frameworks available at the county level is essential to informed decision making on public safety, economic development and long-term landscape health.
The report identifies practical planning tools counties can use including comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances, overlay zones, resource management plans and voluntary conservation programs. It also draws on five case studies to illustrate how public lands counties are putting these tools into practice: San Diego County, Calif.; Routt County, Colo.; Kane County, Utah; Albemarle County, Va.; and Teton County, Wyo.
National Center for Public Lands Counties
The NACo Center for Public Lands Counties advances research, policy and collaboration to help counties with federal lands address unique challenges and strengthen local outcomes.
Innovating Solutions Together: Turning Ideas into Results
NACo CEO Matt Chase: "Every one of these counties started in the same place: a local vision, followed by a search for ideas. NACo builds the networks that connect county officials and other experts."
Counties play a growing role in the fight to lower utility costs for residents
County governments rarely have a direct role in the energy market, but a new NACo report finds that counties can often be most effective as advocates, helping lower residents’ utility costs by leveraging state programs, local partnerships and outreach.
U.S. Senate advances Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act in initial procedural vote
On Nov. 9, the U.S. Senate advanced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (S. 5653) through a successful vote to invoke cloture. The 73-25 vote sets up further debate and consideration in the chamber.
U.S. Department of Agriculture announces reorganization
On July 24, 2026, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a major reorganization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will relocate thousands of federal employees, restructure regional offices and consolidate administrative services and operations. The changes are expected to reduce USDA’s footprint in Washington, D.C. and shift more personnel to regional hubs across the country.
Are we building tomorrow’s infrastructure or yesterday’s data centers?
Counties can still welcome data center development, but they need to understand what the landscape is becoming. The machinery, the efficiency, the location, the cooling technology, the entire computing model will all be different.
County leaders push for a voice in data center regulation authority
County officials in states like West Virginia and Texas are limited in their ability to regulate data centers while still held accountable by their residents.