STUDY ON THE CORRELATION BETWEEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND WILDLIFE ROADKILL IN ROMANIA

Abstract

Infrastructure projects can be the source of multiple environmental impacts, such as roadkill, habitat loss, and habitat fragmentation. Specialty studies have shown that almost 194 million birds and 29 million mammals may be killed each year on European roads. In our country, the dense network of national roads often causes roadkill events, with the following possible impact forms: reduction of wildlife species populations, damage to population fitness, changes in the spatial distribution and migration routes. At the same time, the presence of an animal on the road can also lead to a degree of discomfort and endangerment for traffic participants. At the same time, highways have their fair share of roadkill events. In Romania, the highway network includes only about 961 km built, the investments in the field of infrastructure being made mainly to connect the east (the Black Sea coast) with the west (the connection with other countries from the European Union). Nowadays, highway networks are being built to become mobility lanes to other regions of the country and exits to other neighboring countries. Recently, there is an increased focus on the environmental component for large infrastructure projects at national level, with solutions that can be implemented from the feasibility study phase. The paper deals with wildlife roadkill findings, associated with different infrastructure projects throughout the country, correlated with the proposal of measures to stop or reduce such negative events.