Wildlife & Traffic
10 Maintenance of ecological assets on transport linear infrastructure
Contents
Management of vegetation
INSPECTION TASKS
To check
- Appropriate state and condition is found according to standards provided in the maintenance plan.
- No vegetation obstructs driver’s field of vision.
- No Invasive Alien Species are found.
- No dead bushes or trees are found.
- Frequency, periods and methods for mowing grass and pruning bushes and trees are adapted to reach the goals in each section according to standards provided in the maintenance plan, goals for target species and meeting legal regulations.
SPECIFIC MAINTENANCE TASKS
To do
- Move and prune vegetation according to maintenance plan
- Move after plant flowering, before winter, to ensure insects and other small fauna find refuges.
- Reduce the work and cost of frequent mowing by keeping patches or strips where plants can develop. Mow by sections applying alternate treatments over time allow to create a mosaic of different habitats.
- Remove vegetation debris within 10 days after mowing or cutting to avoid fertilization by decomposition.
- In sensitive areas, regularly prune vegetation instead of using cutting machines to avoid splitting branches or spreading tree diseases.
- In areas with high deer and wild boar density, manage road verges to reduce opportunities for food and cover which could attract these animals.
- Consider maintaining existing rows of trees which may funnel bat flight, provide refuges for insects or birds and other benefits to biodiversity, with appropriate maintenance to guarantee traffic safety.
- Sow and plant well-adapted and not invasive vegetation
- Use only native and well-adapted vegetation species from the surrounding natural region.
- Do not use species which spread and grow fast, to avoid hindering growth of other species and enhance diversity.
- Use organic/non-toxic products and avoid fertilisers
- Apply biological control methods to avoid introducing toxic products into the environment. These techniques often take a long-term view that which will ultimately be more effective.
- If needed, use organic fertilizers instead of mineral ones.
- If chemicals are required in a well-justified specific case, choose target-specific products, with low toxicity, short permanence in the environment and always meeting regulations.
- Consider grazing and local stakeholders involvement
- Establish cooperation agreements with local stakeholders to promote wildlife crossing vegetation maintenance by grazing and other practices that enhance the management of adjacent lands aiming to achieve the objectives of ecological assets.
SCHEDULE
- Schedule for mowing, pruning or other tasks must be adapted to the annual life cycles of wildlife and according to local conditions. A typical frequency could be:
- • In the median: twice to three times a year.
- • In the area beside platforms: twice to three times a year.
- • In green ditches (partially or completely flooded): once or twice a year where necessary. Maintenance tasks should be left until the breeding periods of insects and other small fauna in ditches are finished: end of summer/beginning of autumn.
- Avoid disturbance caused by vegetation management during breeding and hibernation periods of target species.
Maintenance of ecological assets on transport linear infrastructure