Highway construction and wildlife populations: Evidence from Austria. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Koemle, Dieter; Zinngrebe, Yves; Yu, Xiaohua
• Is Part Of: Land use policy. Volume 73(2018)
• Page Start: 447
• Page End: 457
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: Dynamic panel data -- Spatial lag model -- Ungulates -- Habitat fragmentation -- Habitat loss; Land use -- Periodicals; Land use -- Government policy -- Periodicals; Sol, Utilisation du -- Périodiques; Sol, Utilisation du -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 333.7305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.02.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-8377

Abstract

Highlights: We assess the impact of highways on wildlife using dynamic spatial panel data models. Annual district level data of Austria covering 46 years were used in this study. Increasing highway density reduces roe deer and wild boar populations in a district. Increasing highway density increases these populations in neighboring districts. Environmental Impact Assessments should consider spatial effects of highway projects. Abstract: Fragmentation and destruction of ecosystems due to highways are key threats to habitat quality and biodiversity. In this article, we develop a theoretical framework and use a dynamic spatial panel data model to estimate how Austrian highway construction after 1968 has impacted the populations of roe deer, red deer and wild boar. The results indicate that a growing highway density leads to decreasing populations of roe deer and wild boar in their local district, contrasted with increasing populations in neighboring districts. Red deer populations were relatively insensitive to highway construction. Positive population effects in neighboring districts can be explained by the reduction of competition, disease transmission, and road kill. The results have important policy implications for Environmental Impact Assessments of infrastructure construction, particularly in the early stages of planning.