Searching for common ground, a scientific approach to subjective environmental impact assessments: an example from the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

Abstract

Roads affect ecosystems, biological communities and species in numerous and different ways, determined largely by their location, density, and distribution across the landscape (Hourdequin 2000). Roads generally have negative effects on the biotic integrity in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and these effects can be classified under seven categories (Trombulak & Frissell 2000): increased mortality from road construction; increased mortality from vehicle collisions; News and Views modification of animal behaviour; alteration of the physical environment; alteration of the chemical environment; spread of exotic species; and increased alteration and use of the habitats by humans.