A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
No net loss of connectivity: Conserving habitat networks in the context of urban expansion
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5070-903X
Graphical abstract Display Omitted
Highlights We illustrate how spatial graph modelling can be used to implement a landscape approach to mitigation hierarchy. Urban development plan in a Finnish city negatively impacts the connectivity of the Siberian flying squirrel habitat network. The most efficient scenarios to mitigate negative impacts were avoidance actions, followed by offsetting. The most efficient reduction scenarios were actions in which both habitat patches and connections were saved from development. Uncertain dispersal distance of the focal species can lead to insufficient mitigation.
Abstract Increasing urbanisation calls for careful landscape conservation planning to maintain biodiversity in urban areas. Urbanisation not only decreases the amount and quality of habitats, but it also affects habitat connectivity, which is crucial for species’ long-term persistence. The mitigation hierarchy approach of avoiding, reducing and offsetting the negative impacts of development projects is a powerful tool to prevent biodiversity loss. However, this process is typically used at the local scale and on a project-by-project basis, ignoring the cumulated effects of several projects on habitat connectivity. We applied a landscape-level approach to the mitigation hierarchy to achieve no net loss of connectivity during urban planning. Using spatial graphs, we assessed avoidance, reduction and offsetting scenarios for mitigating the impact of ten urban development projects in the city of Jyväskylä, Finland, here focusing on the habitat network of the endangered Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans). We found a negative impact of urban development on network connectivity and prioritised habitat patches and corridors, which should be maintained to avoid and reduce the impacts. The no net loss of connectivity was achieved by adding new habitat patches in locations that maximise connectivity. We also found that the results were highly sensitive to variations in the dispersal distance of the focal species used in the connectivity model. An inadequate reference value for this parameter may lead to underestimation of the impacts of development projects and, therefore, insufficient mitigation actions. With a case study, we showed that spatial graph analysis can support decision-making by identifying and prioritising the actions needed to maintain habitat connectivity in urban landscapes.
No net loss of connectivity: Conserving habitat networks in the context of urban expansion
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5070-903X
Graphical abstract Display Omitted
Highlights We illustrate how spatial graph modelling can be used to implement a landscape approach to mitigation hierarchy. Urban development plan in a Finnish city negatively impacts the connectivity of the Siberian flying squirrel habitat network. The most efficient scenarios to mitigate negative impacts were avoidance actions, followed by offsetting. The most efficient reduction scenarios were actions in which both habitat patches and connections were saved from development. Uncertain dispersal distance of the focal species can lead to insufficient mitigation.
Abstract Increasing urbanisation calls for careful landscape conservation planning to maintain biodiversity in urban areas. Urbanisation not only decreases the amount and quality of habitats, but it also affects habitat connectivity, which is crucial for species’ long-term persistence. The mitigation hierarchy approach of avoiding, reducing and offsetting the negative impacts of development projects is a powerful tool to prevent biodiversity loss. However, this process is typically used at the local scale and on a project-by-project basis, ignoring the cumulated effects of several projects on habitat connectivity. We applied a landscape-level approach to the mitigation hierarchy to achieve no net loss of connectivity during urban planning. Using spatial graphs, we assessed avoidance, reduction and offsetting scenarios for mitigating the impact of ten urban development projects in the city of Jyväskylä, Finland, here focusing on the habitat network of the endangered Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans). We found a negative impact of urban development on network connectivity and prioritised habitat patches and corridors, which should be maintained to avoid and reduce the impacts. The no net loss of connectivity was achieved by adding new habitat patches in locations that maximise connectivity. We also found that the results were highly sensitive to variations in the dispersal distance of the focal species used in the connectivity model. An inadequate reference value for this parameter may lead to underestimation of the impacts of development projects and, therefore, insufficient mitigation actions. With a case study, we showed that spatial graph analysis can support decision-making by identifying and prioritising the actions needed to maintain habitat connectivity in urban landscapes.
No net loss of connectivity: Conserving habitat networks in the context of urban expansion
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5070-903X
Graphical abstract Display Omitted
Highlights We illustrate how spatial graph modelling can be used to implement a landscape approach to mitigation hierarchy. Urban development plan in a Finnish city negatively impacts the connectivity of the Siberian flying squirrel habitat network. The most efficient scenarios to mitigate negative impacts were avoidance actions, followed by offsetting. The most efficient reduction scenarios were actions in which both habitat patches and connections were saved from development. Uncertain dispersal distance of the focal species can lead to insufficient mitigation.
Abstract Increasing urbanisation calls for careful landscape conservation planning to maintain biodiversity in urban areas. Urbanisation not only decreases the amount and quality of habitats, but it also affects habitat connectivity, which is crucial for species’ long-term persistence. The mitigation hierarchy approach of avoiding, reducing and offsetting the negative impacts of development projects is a powerful tool to prevent biodiversity loss. However, this process is typically used at the local scale and on a project-by-project basis, ignoring the cumulated effects of several projects on habitat connectivity. We applied a landscape-level approach to the mitigation hierarchy to achieve no net loss of connectivity during urban planning. Using spatial graphs, we assessed avoidance, reduction and offsetting scenarios for mitigating the impact of ten urban development projects in the city of Jyväskylä, Finland, here focusing on the habitat network of the endangered Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans). We found a negative impact of urban development on network connectivity and prioritised habitat patches and corridors, which should be maintained to avoid and reduce the impacts. The no net loss of connectivity was achieved by adding new habitat patches in locations that maximise connectivity. We also found that the results were highly sensitive to variations in the dispersal distance of the focal species used in the connectivity model. An inadequate reference value for this parameter may lead to underestimation of the impacts of development projects and, therefore, insufficient mitigation actions. With a case study, we showed that spatial graph analysis can support decision-making by identifying and prioritising the actions needed to maintain habitat connectivity in urban landscapes.
No net loss of connectivity: Conserving habitat networks in the context of urban expansion
Kosma, Maari (author) / Laita, Anne (author) / Duflot, Rémi (author)
2023-07-18
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
EUCC's Baltic Coastal Corridor Programme (BACO); Conserving coastal habitat networks
| British Library Conference Proceedings | 1995