Prioritizing conservation corridors to enhance connectivity and mitigate multidimensional vulnerabilities in protected area networks

Expanding and connecting protected areas (PAs) is crucial to meet the ambitious goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), yet the interplay between these targets remains poorly understood. Here we introduce a novel framework for developing conservation priority corridors (CPCs) that balances connectivity, cost-effectiveness, and biodiversity value. Our framework integrates critical connectivity corridors with conservation priority zones, identifying priority areas for conservation action across three scenarios: conservative, moderate, and ambitious. We demonstrate that the moderate CPC scenario offers a pragmatic pathway to achieving the GBF's targets in China, increasing PA coverage to 34%, effectively connecting half of existing PAs, and safeguarding nearly 40% of conservation priority zones. While CPCs face heightened climate-related threats, they exhibit lower vulnerability to human activities and vegetation shifts, highlighting the critical role of connectivity in enhancing resilience to climate change. Our CPC framework identifies the most vulnerable regions and pressing conservation challenges, providing valuable guidance for targeted conservation efforts. This integrative approach offers a practical and impactful pathway to achieving the ambitious goals of the Kunming-Montreal GBF.