Evaluation of Wildlife Crossing Structures in Preparing Highway Projects

Turkey is one of the countries which have the richest biodiversity in the world due to its geographical location, climate differences, topographical, geological and geomorphological diversity. Numerous factors such as rapid population growth, industrialization, improper agricultural policies, overfishing, dams and road constructions have serious negative effects on wildlife habitats and biodiversity. In Turkey, a great number of highway projects have been carried out for the development of road transportation network in the recent period. In the preparation of highway projects in Turkey, ecological factors such as wildlife habitats are generally not taken into consideration. The roads designed without considering wildlife sites limit wildlife movements and gene flow, cause the fragmentation, destruction and extinction of wildlife habitats. In the roads designed without consideration of wildlife, traffic accidents occur that wildlife animals are killed or injured. There are many studies and applications about wildlife crossings structures in the world. In the Turkish literature, studies on the evaluation of wildlife crossings structures in the process of preparation of highway projects are very limited. In this study, an ecological highway project approach was presented by taking into account wildlife habitats and animal crossings. This approach is expected to be a guide to practitioners and planners, as well as a platform for future project work.