LIFE LINES - Linear Infrastructure Networks with Ecological Solutions LIFE14 NAT/PT/001081

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1 LIFE LINES - Linear Infrastructure Networks with Ecological Solutions LIFE14 NAT/PT/ Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data Read more Contact details: Contact person: António Mira Tel: Fax: amira@uevora.pt Project description: Background There is a good knowledge of the existing fauna and flora in the Portuguese region of Alentejo. However one of the main transport and energy corridors linking Portugal to Spain lies in this region. This puts significant pressure on the area s wildlife, as the mortality data for the linear infrastructure (roads and power lines) shows. Within this socioeconomic context, stakeholders and public and private bodies have actively participated with universities to solve the environmental problems caused by transport and energy networks. The situation for wildlife could be improved through a coordinated strategy, based on research done at the University of Évora in the field of functional and structural connectivity mapping, which takes into account the movements and habitat use/preferences of target fauna species. Objectives The main objectives of the LIFE LINES project are to evaluate and disseminate practices to mitigate the negative effects that transport and energy infrastructure have on wild fauna, and to simultaneously promote the creation of a demonstrative green Infrastructure based on ecological corridors and stepping stones. Running alongside grey infrastructure e.g. roads, railways and energy networks,

2 the enhanced green infrastructure will improve connectivity and the conservation of local and regional biodiversity. A green infrastructure strategy will be used, for the first time, as a decision-support tool for practical conservation aims. Expected results: The LIFE LINES project will implement actions and test solutions to make roads, abandoned railways and power lines (medium and high voltage) more sustainable for wildlife, by managing this infrastructure within the green infrastructure concept. Specifically, the project is expected to: Increase landscape connectivity in the study area and with surrounding areas, and reduce wildlife mortality caused by grey infrastructure; Create a network of corridors and micro-reserves in the vicinity of linear infrastructure, including road embankments and around utilities pylons; Promote practices for the rapid detection and control of invasive alien plant species in grey infrastructure; Create a nursery and seed mixtures of native plants for use in habitat creation, recover of areas invaded by exotic flora, and create biodiverse flora communities within micro-reserves; Create a national wildlife mortality database that can be used as a common platform for all infrastructure operators and nature conservation institutions; Increase people s awareness of, and get their input on the problem of wildlife mortality from vehicle collisions, through the development of a mobile application (tablet and smartphone); Test the efficiency of new designs of landing deterrents mounted on pylons of medium and high voltage power lines; and Test the efficacy of various self-learning machines/ systems for the identification of amphibian and bird roadkill. Results Environmental issues addressed: Themes Biodiversity issues - Ecological coherence Services & Commerce - Transportation - Storage Keywords animal corridor environmental impact of transport Target EU Legislation

3 Nature protection and Biodiversity Directive 92/43 - Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora- Habitats Directiv... COM(2011) 244 final Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to COM(2013) 249 final Communication from the Commission on Green Infrastructure (GI) - Enhancing E... COM(2013) 620 final Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on t... Natura 2000 sites Not applicable Beneficiaries: Coordinator Type of organisation Description Partners Universidade de Évora University The University of Évora (UE) is located in the Portuguese region of Alentejo. It offers 33 courses and 41 post-graduate degrees. Research and Development is organised in several areas through a network of 14 research units, with a common emphasis on sustainable development. EGSP(EGSP - Energia e Sistemas de Potência Lda), Portugal MARCA(MARCA - Associação de Desenvolvimento Local), Portugal CME(Município de Évora), Portugal IP(Infraestruturas de Portugal, S.A.), Portugal FCUP(Universidade do Porto), Portugal CMMN(Município de Montemor-o-Novo), Portugal UA(Universidade de Aveiro), Portugal Administrative data: Project reference LIFE14 NAT/PT/ Duration 01-AUG-2015 to 31-JUL Total budget 5,540, EU contribution 3,324, Project location Alentejo(Portugal)

4 Read more: Poster Project web site Project web site - 2 Publication: Technical report Title: "LIFE LINES - Linear Infrastructure Networks with Ecological Solutions (LIFE14 NAT/PT/001081)" (1.79 MB) Author: Pedro P. Costa, António Mira Year: 2016 Editor: LIFE LINES No of pages: 1 Project's website Project's Facebook page Title: "LIFE14 NAT/PT/ Progress Report: Covering the project activities from 01/08/2015 to 29/02/2016: LIFE LINES - Linear Infrastructure Networks with Ecological Solutions" (1.05 MB) Year: 2016 Editor: LIFE LINES No of pages: 29 lineares com soluçoes ecológicas" (9.95 MB) Author: António Mira Year: 2016 Editor: LIFE LINES No of pages: 48 Title: "Towards sustainability in Nature Conservation: Autochthonous plant species and Community" (1.77 MB) Year: 2016 Editor: Marca Associação de Desenvolvimento Local No of pages: 12 Title: "Measures to reduce fauna road kills: ledges in culverts, road-signs for amphibians and nets on road slopes to avoid rabbits colonization" (2.35 MB) Author: Graça Garcia Year: 2016 Editor: Infraestrturas de Portugal No of pages: 14 Title: "Linear infrastructure networks with ecological solutions" (9.89 MB) Author: António Mira Year: 2016 Editor: LIFE LINES No of pages: 46 Title: "Cartography of invasive plants and robotic monitoring solutions for animals' roadkills" (10.1 MB) Author: N Sillero, AC Teodoro, J Honrado,... [et al] Year: 2016 Editor: LIFE LINES No of pages: 27 lineares com soluçoes ecolóficoas" (8.79 MB) Editor: LIFE LINES No of pages: 30

5 Video link lineares com soluçoes ecolóficoas" (37.2 MB) Author: António Mira Editor: LIFE LINES No of pages: 67 Title: "LIFE LINES: Linear infrastructure network with ecological solutions = Rede de infraestruturas lineares com soluçoes ecolóficoas" (1.67 MB) Editor: LIFE LINES No of pages: 26 Title: "Rede de infraestruturas lineares com soluções ecologicas" (10.4 MB) Author: António Mira Editor: Universidade de Évora No of pages: 32 Title: "LIFE-LINES: Linear infrastructure network with ecological solutions = Rede de Infraestruturas Lineares com Soluções Ecológicas" (1.66 MB) No of pages: 26 Project video (PT/EN, 5') Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data Read more