| 1. |
- Balfors, Berit, et al.
(author)
-
Impacts of region-wide urban development on biodiversity in strategic environmental assessment
- 2005
-
In: Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management. - 1464-3332 .- 1757-5605. ; 7:2, s. 229-246
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In urbanising regions, urban sprawl and infrastructure cause profound alterations of natural habitats. Initial decisions on urban expansion and major infrastructure investments are often made on a strategic level where the long-term development of a region is determined. For these types of decisions a strategic environmental assessment can be prepared. However, the lack of an adequate conceptual and methodological framework can pose a major problem for the prediction of impacts, not least concerning biodiversity. This paper will highlight the need for effective methods for biodiversity analysis at landscape and regional levels, with reference to the long-term urban development of the Stockholm and Mälaren regions. Problems of habitat loss, fragmentation and other impacts related to large-scale urbanisation and infrastructure developments will be addressed. GIS-based methods focusing on predictive ecological modelling will be discussed in a scenario context. The implementation of such methodologies in the strategic environmental assessment process would allow a better integration of biodiversity in planning and decision-making, further promoting a sustainable planning system.
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
- Gontier, Mikael, et al.
(author)
-
Biodiversity in environmental assessment : current practice and tools for prediction
- 2006
-
In: Environmental impact assessment review. - : Elsevier BV. - 0195-9255 .- 1873-6432. ; 26:3, s. 268-286
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Habitat loss and fragmentation are major threats to biodiversity. Environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment are essential instruments used in physical planning to address such problems. Yet there are no well-developed methods for quantifying and predicting impacts of fragmentation on biodiversity. In this study, a literature review was conducted on GIS-based ecological models that have potential as prediction tools for biodiversity assessment. Further, a review of environmental impact statements for road and railway projects from four European countries was performed, to study how impact prediction concerning biodiversity issues was addressed. The results of the study showed the existing gap between research in GIS-based ecological modelling and current practice in biodiversity assessment within environmental assessment.
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
- Gontier, Mikael, 1975-
(author)
-
Spatial prediction tools for biodiversity in environmental assessment
- 2008
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Human activities in the form of land use changes, urbanisation and infrastructure developments are major threats to biodiversity. The loss and fragmentation of natural habitats are great obstacles for the long term preservation of biodiversity and nature protection measures alone may not be sufficient to tackle the problem. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA) play a central role in identifying, predicting and managing the impacts of human activities on biodiversity. The review of current practice suggests that the complexity of the task is underestimated and that new methodological approaches encompassing the entire landscape are needed. Spatial aspects of the assessment and the lack of information on scale-related issues are particular problems affecting the appropriate assessment of cumulative effects. In parallel with the development and establishment of EIA and SEA, spatial modelling is an expanding field in ecology and many derived applications could be suitable for the prediction and assessment of biodiversity-related impacts. The diversity of modelling methods suggests that a strategy is needed to identify prediction methods appropriate for EIA and SEA. The relevance and potential limitations of GIS-based species distribution and habitat models in predicting impacts on biodiversity were examined in three studies in the greater Stockholm area. Distinct approaches to habitat suitability modelling were compared from the perspective of environmental assessment needs and requirements. The results showed that model performance, validity and ultimate suitability for planning applications were strongly dependent on empirical data and expert knowledge. The methods allowed visual, qualitative and quantitative assessment of habitat loss, thus improving decision support for assessment of impacts on biodiversity. The proposed methods allowed areas of high ecological value and the surrounding landscape to be considered in the same assessment, thereby contributing to better integration of biodiversity issues in physical planning.
|
|
| 6. |
|
|
| 7. |
|
|
| 8. |
|
|
| 9. |
- Mörtberg, Ulla
(author)
-
GIS-based habitat models in spatial planning
- 2007
-
In: Habitat modelling - A tool for managing landscapes?. - : Norsk Institut for Naturforskning. - 9788242617552 ; , s. 22-26
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)
|
|
| 10. |
|
|
