EFFECTIVENESS AND SUITABILITY OF DEFRAGMENTATION AND FENCING FACILITIES ON STRUMA MOTORWAY, LOT 1
(Preliminary results)
NINA STOILOVA¹*, ELITSA POPOVA², VALENTIN BOGOEV³
1 Department of Ecology and Environmental protection, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia, Bulgaria; Road infrastructure agency, Sofia, Bulgaria;
2 Department of Zoology and anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia, Bulgaria
3 Department of Ecology and Environmental protection, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia, Bulgaria
* Corresponding author: ninnastoilova@gmail.com
Keywords: fragmentation, road facilities, wildlife crossings, landscape and ecological engineering
Abstract: Road constructions have a serious impact on environment, mainly through fragmentation and direct loss of habitats, collision mortality, barrier effect and general pollutions. Wildlife crossings and fences, which were introduced recently in motorway constructions, are only part of the measures to mitigate the negative effects. One of the newest motorway projects in Bulgaria – “Struma” also has an improved system for wildlife permeability and fences, reducing wildlife and human mortality.
The study is focused on the first stretch - Lot 1 (from km 305 + 220 to km 322 + 000) as it has various structures for wildlife protection and it has a long enough adaptation period, which is an important condition for reporting the facilities’ effectiveness.
In addition, the study assessed the suitability and technical implementation of specialized and non-specialized facilities for mitigation of negative impact of road constructions. The main methods, used in the study include photographic capture by camera traps, animal tracks and excrement records, survey among the local population and analysis of the technical and natural features of the facilities.
The monitored facilities were: a large mammal ecoduct at km 314 + 070, a small and a middle mammalian subway at km 315 + 900, a non-specialized viaduct at km 314 + 400, bridges with dry paths, reptile and amphibian tube culverts. We also investigated the suitability of “rabbit fences” and guiding concrete fences for amphibians.