Why are buffers important when designing wildlife corridors?

Buffers play a critical role in the design of wildlife corridors by reducing human disturbances and protecting habitats. Wildlife corridors are designed to connect fragmented habitats, allowing animals to move safely between areas without the risks posed by roads, buildings, or other human activities. Buffers act as a transitional area around these corridors, helping to lessen the impact of human activities such as noise, pollution, and physical disturbances that can disrupt wildlife movement and behavior.

By incorporating buffers, wildlife corridors can maintain their ecological integrity and provide a safer environment for species that rely on these corridors for migration, foraging, and breeding. Properly designed buffers can help conserve critical habitats, ultimately promoting biodiversity and the long-term sustainability of ecosystems. In contrast, the other options do not capture the primary function of buffers in the context of wildlife corridors. Buffers are not meant to increase traffic access or facilitate agricultural development, nor are they primarily designed for recreational pathways, although they may contribute to those aspects secondarily. The main goal remains focused on protecting wildlife from human disturbances.