Paving Over Paradise

Fragmentation of Conservation LandscapeDegradation of Conservation Potential of lands Barrier to Wildlife Movement Sink for Wildlife PopulationsDegradation of Pristine Waters Degradation of Visual and Auditory Resources

Environmental Effects of Roads

Large numbers of animals are killed annually on roads. In selected situations, such as for some amphibians with highly restricted home ranges, populations of rare animals may be reduced to dangerous sizes by road kills.

An estimated 1 million vertebrates a day are killed on roads in the UnitedStates (Lalo 1987).

Roads facilitate biological invasion in that disturbed roadside habitats are invaded byexotic (non-native) plant and animal species dispersed by wind, water, vehicles, andother human activities. Roads may be the first points of entry for exotic species into anew landscape, and the road can serve as a corridor for plants and animals movingfarther into the landscape.

The width of the surface of a road differs from the width of its ecological influence (Auerbach and others 1997; Forman, in press; Forman and others 1997; Larsen and Parks 1997; Reck and Kaule 1993).

Comprehensive mitigation of the full array of road-associated effects on terrestrial vertebrates of conservation concern poses one of the most serious of land management challenges.

Key Habitat for Mammals

Key Habitat for Mammals

Key Habitat for Mammals

Key Habitat for Mammals

Center of Salamander Diversity

Center of Salamander Diversity

Center of Salamander Diversity

Center of Salamander Diversity

Center of Aquatic Diversity

Center of Aquatic Diversity

Center of Aquatic Diversity

Center of Aquatic Diversity

Center of Aquatic Diversity

Center of Aquatic Diversity

Center of Bird Diversity

Center of Bird Diversity

Center of Bird Diversity

Impacts of Interstate Road Construction in Mountain Terrain