Long-term preservation of the functions of ecological assets in transportation infrastructure requires new multidisciplinary approaches in traditional road and railway operation and maintenance. The increasing number of accidents due to animal-vehicle collisions, as well as environmental legislation demands and awareness of the effects of biodiversity loss have led to the development of a wide range of ecological assets in recent decades. Guidelines that help practitioners involved in infrastructure operation to properly maintain these ecological assets are crucial to preserve their role in relation to traffic safety and to reduce wildlife mortality and disturbances. Moreover, they should contribute avoid the spread of invasive alien species, maintain ecological connections across linear infrastructures and support the provisions installed or constructed to enhance biodiversity on elements of the infrastructure. Best maintenance practice must also help to get the best value for money invested in ecological mitigation and to improve future design, construction and maintenance practices for ecological assets. Based on a literature review and information gathered in research projects funded by the Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR) Roads and Wildlife Programme Executive Board, a set of guidelines have been produced. The instructions are focused on best maintenance practices for wildlife fencing and screens, wildlife crossings, wildlife warning signs and detection systems and appropriate management of verges, retention ponds and other elements of drainage systems are addressed to enhance the value of these elements as wildlife habitats while preventing them from becoming ecological traps. The actions should help to meet legal obligations, particularly regarding the management of road and railway sections crossing protected areas or landscapes hosting valuable flora and fauna species and ecosystems. The guidelines also encourage cooperation with all stakeholders involved in the management of land adjacent to infrastructure. Some examples are nature, water and land planning administrations,
municipalities and local communities, landowners, and non-governmental and research organisations. The guidelines have been developed by an interdisciplinary team including both transportation and wildlife experts, with strengthened cooperation between the CEDR and the Infrastructure and Ecology Network Europe (IENE) organisations. The output is being included as a new chapter in the online ‘Wildlife and Traffic European Handbook’ prompted by the IENE and including the document produced 15 years ago in the COST 341 Action, as well as a portal to access handbooks on transport infrastructure and ecology published worldwide. The Handbook is focused on identifying conflicts and providing solutions to mitigate habitat fragmentation due to transportation infrastructures, and is now being updated under the initiative of the IENE in cooperation with CEDR and supported by the Swedish Transport.
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