Abstract
Ecological connectivity (EC) plays a fundamental role for the protection of biodiversity, but regional administrations have not yet fully and adequately included ecological network concepts in Alpine spatial planning systems. Since a coherent network is not harmonized and implemented by Alpine countries, EC is threatened by the effects of human presence and anthropogenic infrastructure. Therefore, the Interreg Alpine Space PlanToConnect project elaborated an alpine-wide ecological network scenario based on previous studies, searching for priority planning areas for connectivity and following the concept of Lawton et al., 2010. It evaluated the protection status of areas valuable for conservation measures and connected them with potential ecological linkages, using the least-cost-path approach. To prove their plausibility, the network was cross-checked with existing national and regional connectivity concepts and by consulting planning authorities.
First results show, that 8,1% of highly suitable areas for connectivity conservation are not protected and most of them appear in Switzerland. 953 potential ecological linkages were mapped of which around half of them are highly important to keep the network connected. One third of the potential ecological linkages are passing through bottlenecks caused by urbanization and are at risk of getting lost. Approximately 25% of all potential linkages are intersected by motorways and more than 25% of the potential linkages’ area is used by intensive agriculture.
Regional and national spatial planning administrations can use the model for transboundary ecological network harmonization and for realizing priority interventions to create a coherent ecological network in the Alps.