IENE 2016

Land transport infrastructure (ITT) are most often addressed as corridors undoubtedly having an impact on the landscape. While these incriminating negative linear effects are now well appreciated, studies on the potentially positive effects of ITT on biodiversity and the place and role they play on ecological corridors in urban areas are relatively marginal.

This systematic review, constituted from the work and research findings extracted from the French and international literature, formalizes a commitment to progress in the knowledge of the interrelationships between linear infrastructure technical issues of different nature (railway, river, road, electricity and gas) and écopaysagères dimensions of urban areas crossed.

Our results illustrate that transport infrastructure frequently involved in the decline of biodiversity can also have a positive impact on certain communities of flora and fauna species. However, the assessments until recently limited incorporate components of biodiversity often approach based on indicators constructed from the presence of species, usually of heritage interest, and not of the functionality of these habitats environments.

Through this review, we provide ecologists, ITT managers and other stakeholders involved in the conservation or urban planning, a state of the art thinking on the benefits of proper management ITT in the consideration of biodiversity in urban environments.