Wildlife Crossing Structures: An Effective Strategy To Restore Or Maintain Wildlife Connectivity Across Roads

Keywords

Connectivity; Mitigation; Overpass; Underpass; Wildlife crossing structure

Abstract

Roads, railways and other linear infrastructure are often filters or barriers to the movement of wildlife. Wildlife crossing structures (underpasses and overpasses) improve traffic safety and contribute to the conservation of biodiversity by allowing animals to move safely across roads, thereby reducing the risk of wildlife-vehicle collision. This connectivity between populations on opposite sides of the road allows animals to access resources and mates and facilitates gene flow, thereby improving the viability of wildlife populations. The effectiveness of crossing structures is significantly enhanced when combined with fences, and both measures are usually best implemented together. 1 Follow a logical sequence of steps to implement an effective mitigation strategy. 2 Wildlife crossing structures are diverse in their design, shape and size; and they must be fully described in plans and reports to avoid confusion. 3 Multi-use structures are a potentially effective approach to increase the permeability of roads for wildlife. 4 The selection of structure type depends on the goals of mitigation, target species and engineering constraints. 5 The detailed design of crossing structures is critical to success. 6 The location and spacing of crossing structures should be guided by the ecological and biological needs of the target species. 7 Maintenance, monitoring and adaptive management of crossing structures are needed to assure success. 8 Alternatives to wildlife crossing structures are more appropriate in some locations and situations. Wildlife crossing structures should be constructed when impacts cannot be avoided or minimised. There is a wide diversity in the type of wildlife crossing structures available. Selecting the appropriate design depends on the impacts to be mitigated, the target species, engineering and other location-related constraints and traffic safety considerations. In addition, effectiveness can be maximised by addressing a number of design, monitoring and maintenance issues.

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Publication Title

Handbook of Road Ecology

Number of Pages

172-183

Document Type

Article; Book Chapter

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118568170.ch21

Socpus ID

84977070627 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84977070627

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