Landscape-scale conservation planning is urgent given the extent of anthropogenic land-use change and its pervasive impacts on Earth’s biodiversity. However, such efforts are hindered by disagreements over the effects of habitat fragmentation on biodiversity that have persisted since the mid-1970s. We contend that nearly 50 years later, these disagreements have become a locked-in debate characterized by polarized, unproductive discourse and a lack of consistent guidance for landscape managers and policy makers. Our work is highlighting the need for a unified set of principles regarding conservation in fragmented landscapes, identifying potential reasons for disparate conclusions in fragmentation research, and developing ways for the ecological community to advance research that leads to consensus rather than the perpetuation of disagreement. This research will help reconcile different views and advance conservation planning within a landscape ecology framework.
