The Critical Paths Project is studying road crossings throughout the Northeast region to minimize habitat fragmentation and create wildlife corridors. The project has identified 11 priority zones out of 38 wildlife crossings along Vermont's Green Mountains. The project works with transportation officials and conservation groups to devise practical solutions to help wildlife survive climate change, such as improving permeability of roadways for wildlife.

1. Climate Change Safeguards Program
Critical Paths — Making Roadways Permeable for Wildlife
NWF’s Northeast Regional Center is working to safeguard wildlife
and improve public safety on our roads in partnership with state and
federal agencies, municipalities, citizens, and other conservation
organizations. The Critical Paths Project is studying road crossings
throughout the region and working with transportation officials to
devise practical solutions to minimize habitat fragmentation, create
wildlife corridors, and help wildlife survive climate change.
Rt. 105 – Zone 2
Rt. 242 – Zone 5
Rt. 118 – Zone 9
Zone 9
Zone 10
Rt. 15 – Zone 14
Rte. 118
Zone 11
0 5 1
Rt. 17 – Zone 20
Rt. 125 – Zone 21
Rt. 73 – Zone 25
Rt. 4 – Zone 27
Rt. 103 – Zone 30
State/Federal Highways N
Rt. 11 – Zone 35
Priority Zones
Conserved Lands
The Critical Paths Project has identified 11
State/Federal Highways
Green Mountain Range
priority zones out of the 38 wildlife crossings
Priority Zones along the spine of Vermont’s Green Mountains.
Rt. 9 – Zone 37 Conserved Lands The inset map above shows three zones that
Green Mountain Range were monitored along Route 118, and highlights
the detailed physical characteristics of the
priority zone between Belvidere and Eden.
Critical Path Partners: Vermont Natural Resources Council, the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife, the Vermont Agency of Transportation, and the U.S Forest Service,
Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forest. Funding was made possible in part by a grant award made by the Wildlife Conservation Society through its Wildlife Action
Opportunities Fund to assist implementation of several priority actions of Vermont’s Wildlife Action Plan. Support to establish the Wildlife Action Opportunities Fund was provided
by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Additional funding was provided by the Wallace Global Fund, the Summerlee Foundation, the Ward M. and Mariam C. Canaday
Educational and Charitable Trust, and Jane’s Trust.
National Wildlife Federation Northeast Regional Center • www.nwf.org/northeast • 149 State St., Montpelier, VT • (802) 229-0650