Conservation policy under a roadless perspective: Minimizing fragmentation in Greece

• Published in: Biological conservation Vol. 252; p. 108828
• Main Authors: Kati, Vassiliki, Kassara, Christina, Psaralexi, Maria, Tzortzakaki, Olga, Petridou, Maria, Galani, Antonia, Hoffmann, Monika T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2020
• Subjects: Fragmentation; Mountains; Natura 2000; Policy; Roadless areas; Spatial planning; Mountains; Policy; Roadless areas; Spatial planning; Fragmentation; Natura 2000
• ISSN: 0006-3207; 1873-2917
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108828

Land use change poses as the top threat for biodiversity decline, and road sprawl as a key driver behind it globally. According to the recent Landscape Fragmentation Indicator (LFI), Greece is less fragmented than the rest of Europe but presents higher rates of fragmentation increase. We developed the Roadless Fragmentation Indicator (RFI) to monitor fragmentation in more natural ecosystems. The RFI calculates the percentage of land that is covered by roadless areas (RAs), defined as land patches over 1 km2 that are over 1 km away from the nearest road. We produced the roadless map of Greece, concluding to 1115 RAs ranked by size (1–256 km2) and to a national RFI of less than 5%. The RFI reflected naturalness, was significantly higher in the Natura 2000 network, and was more sensitive in less fragmented zones. Six mountains (0.51% of Greek land) have remained largely roadless (RAs ≥ 50 km2) and should be protected as such. We call for a straightforward roadlessness policy under a “European Roadless Rule” that would legally protect at least 2% of European land as road-free area. We also call for no further unjustified road sprawl in more natural and least fragmented ecosystems, as a measure to be integrated in all sectors of EU policy and particularly in the spatial planning of development projects. We recommend a five-step roadlessness guideline to be implemented in the European Union, including Greece, as a measure to effectively address biodiversity decline. [Display omitted] •The Roadless Fragmentation Indicator (RFI) is presented.•Only 4.99% of Greek land is roadless, after the RFI.•Six large roadless areas (≥50 km2) are left at remote Greek mountains.•The area inside the Natura 2000 network is less fragmented than outside.•A five-step policy guideline to achieve 2% of land as roadless