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Lydia Olander, director of the Ecosystem Services Program at the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, will present Using Functions-based Approaches in Planning Transportation and Mitigation of Impacts," at the International Conference on Ecology and Transportation in Raleigh, North Carolina September 21.
Functions-based approaches to assessing the impacts and outcomes of transportation projects and mitigation may improve outcomes for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Models of ecosystem functions developed using existing spatial data, models, and geospatial methods can be used in scenario analysis. This presentation will provide two examples. The planning example will show methods for predicting fragmentation of habitat by roads which results in the creation of “edge” habitat and the creation of barriers to dispersal. The mitigation planning example will prioritize catchments where mitigation can provide the most uplift for four key aquatic ecosystem functions; hydrology, water quality, geomorphology/hydraulics, and habitat.