| Title: |
Landscape fragmentation in Europe
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| Resource Type: |
document --> technical publication --> report
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| Country: |
European Union
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| Year: |
2011 |
| Availability: |
EEA Report No 2/2011, Joint EEA-FOEN report
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| Author 1/Producer: |
European Environment Agency (EEA)
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| Other Authors/Producers: |
FOEN
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| Author / Producer Type: |
Agency, regulator or other governmental or inter-governmental body
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| ISBN: |
ISSN 1725-9177
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EUGRIS Keyword(s): |
Contaminated land-->Wider impacts / sustainability-->Environmental
Water resources and their management -->Stresses, quality and ecological status
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| Short description: |
EXTRACT:
Landscapes are the setting for all human activities,
providing a home to humans and all other life
forms. Landscapes change constantly but in recent
decades humans have often shaped them with little
thought to the cumulative impacts and at a pace
that is unprecedented. The value of landscapes
is not yet fully reflected in decision-making on
transport infrastructure and urban development.
Considerations such as biodiversity and landscape
quality are often marginalised.
One of the most important issues is fragmentation
of landscapes by human activities and infrastructure
— a major cause of the alarming decrease in many
European wildlife populations. Fragmentation
results in collisions with vehicles, prevents access to
resources, facilitates the spread of invasive species,
reduces habitat area and quality, and subdivides
and isolates animal populations into smaller and
more vulnerable fractions. Noise and pollution
from traffic also threaten human and environmental
well-being, and impair the scenic and recreational
qualities of the landscape.
For the first time, this report presents the extent
of landscape fragmentation across an entire
continent using a scientifically sound method. It
also reveals the most relevant driving forces behind
fragmentation, demonstrating that varying factors
are relevant in different parts of Europe. The picture
it paints is worrying.
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Submitted By:
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Professor Paul Bardos WhoDoesWhat?
Last update: 25/09/2011
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