1. Procedures for the Design of Roads in Harmony with Wildlife
Eugene OBrien
Roughan & O’Donovan Innovative Solutions, Ireland
András Weiperth
Centre for Ecological Research (MTA), Hungary
Dennis Wansink
Bureau Waardenburg, The Netherlands
Georg Tschan
National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI),
Sweden

2. CEDR Research Program – Roads and Wildlife
The Conference of European Road Directors (CEDR) funded 4 projects in recent years:
Harmony (
SafeRoad (
SafeBatPaths
and
ECOROAD
Three projects was selected:
SAFEROAD – Safe roads for wildlife and people – Cost-efficient mitigation strategies and maintenance practices
HARMONY – Procedures for the design of roads in harmony with wildlife and
SafeBatPaths – Fumbling in the dark: Effectiveness of bat mitigation measures on roads
They have presented some of their results at this conference allready

3. Roads in Harmony with Wildlife
Harmony Topics
Ecological Assessment
- Environmental Impact Assessment
- Appropriate Assessment
Contract Procurement
Project Appraisal
Contract Performance and Follow up
Maintenance
- Road verges
- Mitigation measures
Today’s Presentation

4. Roads in Harmony with Wildlife
Harmony Geographic Scope
7 main countries had all aspects examined:
Austria,
Belgium,
Hungary,
Ireland,
Netherlands,
Sweden,
UK.
4 further countries had some but not all aspects examined:
Denmark,
Norway,
Germany,
Greece.

5. Ecological Assessment – EIA
National Guidelines on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA’s)
Comparative analysis of national guidelines from 9 countries carried out using a review template of 20 questions.
All countries provide guidelines that ensure compliance with EU legislation.
3 of the 9 countries did not have guidelines available for specific species or habitats.
4 of the 9 countries do not provide guidelines for all stages of EIA.
EIA Analysis
100 EIA’s examined over 10 countries to identify the degree of implementation: Screening, Scoping, Identification of Habitats, Impact Assessment Methodologies, Mitigation measures and Monitoring

6. Implementation of each Stage
Monitoring
Mitigation measures
Impact Assessment
Identification of Habitats
Scoping
Screening

7. Ecological Assessment – EIA

8. Ecological Assessment – EIA
Survey results
For a significant proportion of the EISs, no surveys were carried out in the past two years.
Cumulative impacts are not suitably addressed in a significant proportion of the EISs examined.
Large proportion of the EISs examined do not include a plan for monitoring (not implemented in over 50%).

9. Ecological Assessment – AA
National Guidelines on Appropriate Assessments
Comparative analysis of national guidelines from 9 countries
2 of the 9 countries do not provide guidelines for AA’s
Guidelines treat the significance of adverse effects, the difference between direct and indirect (external) impacts and mitigation.
None of the guidelines have a paragraph about monitoring the impacts of a project or the effectiveness of measures.
AA Analysis
44 Appropriate Assessments were examined in 10 countries. Experts examined each AA and filled out a 21 question template questionnaire.

10. Ecological Assessment – AAs
% of AA’s
Poor understanding of N2000?
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11. Ecological Assessment – AAs
% of AA’s
Poor understanding of N2000?
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Objectives of monitoring unclear?

12. Ecological Assessment – AAs
% of AA’s
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Insufficient (or old) data to assess impacts?

13. Ecological Assessment – AAs
% of AA’s
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Insufficient (or old) data to assess impacts?
Poor because AA
integrated in EIA

14. Ecological Assessment – AAs
% of AA’s
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Insufficient (or old) data to assess impacts?
Poor because AA
integrated in EIA
Significance of adverse effects objectively demonstrated?

15. Ecological Assessment – AAs
% of AA’s
Poor understanding of key terms?
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16. Ecological Assessment – AAs
% of AA’s
Poor understanding of key terms?
Cumulative effects not properly assessed?
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17. Ecological Assessment – AAs
% of AA’s
Poor understanding of key terms?
Cumulative effects not properly assessed?
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Insufficient mitigation?

18. Ecological Assessment – AAs
% of AA’s
Poor understanding of key terms?
Cumulative effects not properly assessed?
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Insufficient mitigation?
Overall poor quality?

19. Ecological Assessment – AAs
% of AA’s
Poor understanding of key terms?
Cumulative effects not properly assessed?
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Insufficient mitigation?
Overall poor quality?
Unclear conclusions on adverse effects

20. Contract Procurement and Follow-up
Procurement Interviews
Used phone interviews with a questionnaire to gather information.
Questionnaire consisted of 27 questions, split into two parts:
10 questions on procurement.
17 questions on follow-up.
14 interviews carried out over the 10 countries.

21. Procurement – Contract Strategies
Contracting Types
Four contracting strategies:

22. Procurement – Recommendations
Road Authority needs ecological expertise and resources to advise & monitor contractor
Quality Assessment in the procurement process should include ecological requirements
Specialist ecologists need to be engaged for implementation and monitoring in the procurement of large Works and Maintenance Contracts.
The use of performance based specifications would lead to better ecological outcomes

23. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Contract Performance and Follow up
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
KPIs should be easy to measure and compare, taking the Environmental Impact Statement into account
A baseline should be established for each KPI
KPIs should be considered during procurement process
KPIs should show if a mitigation structure is functioning
KPIs should include incentives and penalties
Two possible indicators are:
Road kill (according to a pre-specified process of measurement); and
Usage of crossings (using a pre-defined method of measurement and pre-specified target species)

24. Roads in Harmony with Wildlife
Procedures for the Design of Roads in Harmony with Wildlife
Website
Acknowledgement
This project is being funded by the CEDR Transnational Road Research Programme