van Langevelde Frank, van Dooremalen Coby, Jaarsma Catharinus F
Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
J Environ Manage. 2009 Jan;90(1):660-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2007.09.003. Epub 2008 Feb 20.
Roads have large impacts on wildlife, as they form one of the principal causes of mortality, and disturbance and fragmentation of habitat. These impacts are mainly studied and mitigated on major roads. It is, however, a widespread misconception that most animals are killed on major roads. In this paper, we argue that minor roads have a larger impact on wildlife with respect to habitat destruction, noise load and traffic mortality. We use data on traffic related deaths in badgers (Meles meles) in The Netherlands to illustrate that traffic mortality is higher on minor roads. We ask for a more extensive investigation of the environmental impacts of minor roads. Moreover, we argue that the success of mitigation on roads drastically increases when both major and minor roads are integrated in the planning of traffic flows. Therefore, we propose a strategy based on the concept of a "traffic-calmed area". Traffic-calmed areas create opportunities for wildlife by decreasing limitations for animal movement. We ask for further studies to estimate what size traffic-calmed areas should be to maintain minimum viable animal populations.
道路对野生动物有着重大影响，因为它们是导致野生动物死亡、栖息地受到干扰和破碎化的主要原因之一。这些影响主要在主要道路上进行研究和缓解。然而，大多数动物是在主要道路上被杀死的，这是一种普遍存在的误解。在本文中，我们认为，就栖息地破坏、噪音负荷和交通死亡率而言，次要道路对野生动物的影响更大。我们利用荷兰獾（Meles meles）与交通相关的死亡数据来说明次要道路上的交通死亡率更高。我们呼吁对次要道路的环境影响进行更广泛的调查。此外，我们认为，当主要道路和次要道路都纳入交通流量规划时，道路缓解措施的成功率会大幅提高。因此，我们提出了一种基于“交通平静区”概念的策略。交通平静区通过减少对动物移动的限制为野生动物创造机会。我们呼吁进行进一步研究，以估计交通平静区应具备多大规模才能维持最低数量的可存活动物种群。
