IENE 2016

An important objective of conservation planning and reserve design is the provision for functional landscape connectivity. For instance, development of a well-connected network of reserves might support viable populations or metapopulations of species that otherwise might not be supported within single, isolated reserves. Roads present significant obstacles in achieving this objective. Over the past few decades, more focused research on the ecological effects of roads has demonstrated the range and intensity of impacts to landscapes and biodiversity and led to development of a range of measures to avoid, minimize and mitigate these negative effects. The large-scale impacts of road networks and urban growth on conservation of biodiversity were first recognized in Florida in 1990 and led to the Governor’s creation of the Florida Ecological Greenways Network Initiative. This program was created to develop a statewide plan to identify and protect important conservation reserves and critical linkages that together constitute an interconnected system enabling long-term maintenance of Florida’s biodiversity. Key aspects associated with success of the program included collaborative public-private partnerships and dedicated funding of $300 million annually for 20 years to acquire and protect conservation lands identified in the plan. Over 2.4 million acres of land has been protected since the program’s inception. On a parallel track with the Florida Ecological Greenway Network (FEGN) program was the policy by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to develop options to avoid and minimize impacts or include mitigation measures in highway project plans where new or existing roads intersect with protected conservation areas identified in the FEGN plan and supported by State resource agencies. The review process for determining potential environmental conflicts is called the Efficient Transportation Decision-making Program and includes an environmental screening tool used by a team of representatives from state and federal agencies and other non-governmental public groups. This information is used to make preliminary decisions on potential environmental impacts and the need for ecological assessments and special planning considerations as each project moves forward. At the regional level FDOT either works with specially created task forces comprised of public and private stakeholders familiar with the specific issues of each project, or consults with state and federal experts throughout the project planning and design process. We will discuss actions within one region that have led to multiple projects designed to maintain and/or restore landscape connectivity as part of the FEGN vision. In east central Florida, FDOT working in collaboration with public stakeholder groups and state and federal experts have researched, planned, designed and constructed 20 roads that include 146 wildlife crossing structures or other mitigation measures. Three specific large-scale projects within this District will be discussed in detail: State Road 40 through Ocala National Forest (155,000 ha) that includes plans for 76 wildlife crossings, Wekiva Parkway that includes 4 landscape-scale wildlife crossings, and Interstate Highway 4 that includes 10 wildlife crossings. These projects included collection of preconstruction baseline data that provided valuable information needed to minimize negative impacts on native biodiversity, landscape patterns and processes.