Prioritizing highway defragmentation locations for restoring landscape connectivity

2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
MIKEL GURRUTXAGA ◽  
SANTIAGO SAURA
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Connectivity ◽  
Basque Country ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
Area Network ◽  
Northern Spain ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Crossing Structures ◽  
Wildlife Crossing Structures ◽  
Illustrative Case Study

SUMMARYTransport infrastructures are a major driver of global landscape change. In many areas, highways were built before environmental impact assessments required the implementation of wildlife crossing structures. A fundamental task in the development of ecological networks is identifying areas where dispersal pathways of vulnerable populations may be blocked or affected by high volume roads. Financial considerations may limit investment, thus it is vital to establish the relative contribution of each road defragmentation location to upholding habitat connectivity and availability. In this paper, recent methodological developments in habitat network analysis, derived from the probability of connectivity index, were refined and used to evaluate the role of each highway defragmentation location in restoring landscape connectivity. The forest protected area network in the Basque country (northern Spain) was selected as an illustrative case study. The proposed approach was able to quantify and effectively account for a combination of factors determining the contribution of each highway defragmentation location to upholding connectivity, which are rarely jointly considered in analyses oriented to support restoration decisions in landscapes affected by the barrier effect of transport infrastructures. The contribution to connectivity of each defragmentation location depended on its topological position in the landscape, on the relative decrease in the effective distance among habitat areas that results from the permeability restoration at that location, on the distance from the defragmentation location to other alternative wildlife crossing structures already existing in the landscape, on the amount of habitat in the areas connected by the linkages that run through the defragmentation location and on the dispersal abilities of the focal species.

scholarly journals Getting From Here To There - Mainstreaming Wildlife Crossing Structures Through Transdisciplinary Design Approaches To Collaborative Planning

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arleigh Hack
Keyword(s):  
Design Research ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Landscape Planning ◽  
Landscape Connectivity ◽  
Road Ecology ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Crossing Structures ◽  
Wildlife Crossing Structures

The effectiveness of wildlife crossing structures in mitigating the impacts of roads on species and ecosystems have been well-documented in scientific literature. Despite this, there are challenges associated with translating ecological knowledge into policy and practice. The study examines the planning process for wildlife crossing infrastructure using a case study in the context of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and explored the potential of transdisciplinary collaboration and design thinking to enhance landscape connectivity. The study followed an iterative design research method incorporating knowledge from literature review, policy analysis and subject matter professional expertise derived through participant observation through work with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. This supported the development of a conceptual framework for actionable research to encourage the co-creation of practical knowledge and specific planning solutions. In addition, the study contributes valuable insight to the broader literature of sustainable landscape planning, road ecology and transportation planning.

scholarly journals How to get the salamander across the road: exploring the policy intersection of biodiversity conservation and road projects in Ontario

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Wise
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Landscape Connectivity ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
The Road ◽  
Regulatory Policies ◽  
Crossing Structures ◽  
Road Projects ◽  
Wildlife Crossing Structures ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Negative Impacts

Connecting landscapes around roads is an important element in a broader strategy to help protect and recover biodiversity. In regions like southern Ontario and the Greater Golden Horseshoe, growing urban footprints are leading to an expansion of road networks. Road planning and design has historically fragmented natural habitat and created barriers for wildlife movement. The negative impacts of roads can be mitigated through the creation of wildlife crossing structures that enable safe passage of wildlife over or under roads. This Major Research Paper will investigate key Ontario land use and regulatory policies that intersect with both road projects and biodiversity recovery to evaluate their effectiveness in recognizing biodiversity values and enabling the creation of wildlife crossing structures. Key words: landscape connectivity, wildlife crossing, safe passage, biodiversity, conservation, policy, planning, Ontario, Greater Golden Horseshoe

scholarly journals How to get the salamander across the road: exploring the policy intersection of biodiversity conservation and road projects in Ontario

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Wise
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Landscape Connectivity ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
The Road ◽  
Regulatory Policies ◽  
Crossing Structures ◽  
Road Projects ◽  
Wildlife Crossing Structures ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Negative Impacts

Connecting landscapes around roads is an important element in a broader strategy to help protect and recover biodiversity. In regions like southern Ontario and the Greater Golden Horseshoe, growing urban footprints are leading to an expansion of road networks. Road planning and design has historically fragmented natural habitat and created barriers for wildlife movement. The negative impacts of roads can be mitigated through the creation of wildlife crossing structures that enable safe passage of wildlife over or under roads. This Major Research Paper will investigate key Ontario land use and regulatory policies that intersect with both road projects and biodiversity recovery to evaluate their effectiveness in recognizing biodiversity values and enabling the creation of wildlife crossing structures. Key words: landscape connectivity, wildlife crossing, safe passage, biodiversity, conservation, policy, planning, Ontario, Greater Golden Horseshoe

scholarly journals Getting From Here To There - Mainstreaming Wildlife Crossing Structures Through Transdisciplinary Design Approaches To Collaborative Planning

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arleigh Hack
Keyword(s):  
Design Research ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Landscape Planning ◽  
Landscape Connectivity ◽  
Road Ecology ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Crossing Structures ◽  
Wildlife Crossing Structures

The effectiveness of wildlife crossing structures in mitigating the impacts of roads on species and ecosystems have been well-documented in scientific literature. Despite this, there are challenges associated with translating ecological knowledge into policy and practice. The study examines the planning process for wildlife crossing infrastructure using a case study in the context of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and explored the potential of transdisciplinary collaboration and design thinking to enhance landscape connectivity. The study followed an iterative design research method incorporating knowledge from literature review, policy analysis and subject matter professional expertise derived through participant observation through work with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. This supported the development of a conceptual framework for actionable research to encourage the co-creation of practical knowledge and specific planning solutions. In addition, the study contributes valuable insight to the broader literature of sustainable landscape planning, road ecology and transportation planning.

Systemic Unsustainability as a Threat to Democracy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Felicetti
Keyword(s):  
Research Agenda ◽  
Ecological Crisis ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
Sustainability Transition ◽  
Ways Of Thinking ◽  
Illustrative Case Study ◽  
New Research

Resilient socioeconomic unsustainability poses a threat to democracy whose importance has yet to be fully acknowledged. As the prospect of sustainability transition wanes, so does perceived legitimacy of institutions. This further limits representative institutions’ ability to take action, making democratic deepening all the more urgent. I investigate this argument through an illustrative case study, the 2017 People’s Climate March. In a context of resilient unsustainability, protesters have little expectation that institutions might address the ecological crisis and this view is likely to spread. New ways of thinking about this problem and a new research agenda are needed.

The Effects of Teaching Reflection Diaries on In-Service High School Teachers in Japan

Relay Journal ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 80-99
Author(s):  
Naoya Shibata
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Teachers ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
Teaching Beliefs ◽  
Experienced Teacher ◽  
Female Teachers ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Illustrative Case Study

Although teaching reflection diaries (TRDs) are prevalent tools for teacher training, TRDs are rarely used in Japanese secondary educational settings. In order to delve into the effects of TRDs on teaching development, this illustrative case study was conducted with two female teachers (one novice, and one experienced) at a Japanese private senior high school. The research findings demonstrated that both in-service teachers perceived TRDs as beneficial tools for understanding their strengths and weaknesses. TRDs and class observations illustrated that the novice teacher raised their self-confidence in teaching and gradually changed their teaching activities. On the other hand, the experienced teacher held firm teaching beliefs based on their successful teaching experiences and were sometimes less willing to experiment with different approaches. However, they changed their teaching approaches when they lost balance between their class preparation and other duties. Accordingly, although teachers’ firm beliefs and successful experiences may sometimes become possible hindrances from using TRDs effectively, TRDs can be useful tools to train and help teachers realise their strengths and weaknesses.

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