GSB 7.0 Standardlösung

Biodiversity and Habitat Connectivity (Main Topic 201)

The diversity of plants and animals, the variability of individuals and their preferred habitats – in short: biodiversity – requires areas and connecting pathways in order for it to be preserved and possibly even increased.

Transport routes divide originally contiguous habitats or migratory corridors. This habitat fragmentation can have negative consequences for plants and animals. Beyond the barrier effect, roads, railways and waterways can also connect different parts of the landscape. Particularly verges, vegetated areas adjacent to traffic routes, account for approximately 3% of Germany’s total land area and hold enormous “green” potential for biodiversity.

Studies within the BMDV Network of Experts’ prior research phase (2016–2019) indicated that verges of different transport modes shared characteristics in their biotope composition and certain similarities in species community composition. A comparison of manuals used by personnel of the different transport modes for verge maintenance showed that a wide variety of suitable measures exist for promoting biodiversity and can be applied across transport modes.

The second research phase includes a collaborative assessment on how simultaneously applied measures by the different modes of transport affect biodiversity and habitat connectivity while generating synergies in maintenance efforts.

Proven scientific methodologies, such as genetic methods and remote sensing, are now applied to transport-related biodiversity issues. Testing these methods within the main topic should enable a faster and more cost-efficient supply of frequently-required basic information, such as biodiversity parameters or population size estimations.

Moreover, data availability on the role of verges as habitats and corridors for organisms will be improved. For example, using a cross-modal approach, the researchers investigate both differing and mutual effects on typical stress factors and population genetics.

Direct and indirect impacts of transport carriers on key taxonomic groups including birds and insects are investigated. In particular, the presence of protected species on verges often gives rise to uncertainties regarding planning and implementation processes of construction and maintenance works. As an answer to these challenges, the researchers develop advanced methodological standards to facilitate a successful project realisation (enhanced planning reliability and legal certainty, accelerated project schedules) and promote biodiversity, thus helping to accomplish the general public mission stipulated in the German National Strategy on Biodiversity (NBS) and the Federal Government Strategy for the Exemplary Consideration of Biodiversity on all Federal Property (StrÖff).

Coordination:

Dr. Andreas Sundermeier
Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG)
Sundermeier@bafg.de

Participating institutions:

  • BfG
  • BASt
  • DZSF/EBA