Increasing habitat connectivity is an important adaptation strategy in the face of climate change, which is expected to cause habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss. The WWHCWG is developing a plan to identify the best places to enhance habitat connectivity in order to help protect wildlife. The WWHCWG is co-led by the Departments of Fish and Wildlife and Transportation. Others involved include representatives from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Conservation Northwest, Washington Biodiversity Council, Arid Lands Initiative, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Colville Tribe, Defenders of Wildlife, Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, The Wilderness Society, and Washington State Parks, among others.

The climate change subgroup of the WWHCWG is developing methodologies for integrating climate change into this plan. GIS analysis, which may incorporate downscaled climate models and climate envelope models, is being used to identify connectivity investments most likely to continue to provide connectivity in future climates and facilitate climate-driven shifts in species ranges. Results are expected to be published in reports, peer-reviewed publications, and a website.