Transportation networks can separate habitats and hinder the dispersal of organisms but at the same time, along their verges, can connect habitats and facilitate dispersal. While biodiversity in general is well studied along transportation routes, there is still uncertainty regarding the impact and potential of the interplay between different transportation modes (railways, roads, and waterways) in preserving and connecting biodiversity.
The „Network of Experts” of the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) conducted extensive studies to assess biotope types, floral biodiversity and selected faunal groups along transportation verges, including roads, railways, and waterways, which collectively cover about 3% of Germany's land area. In three geographically distinct regions of Germany, a low mountain landscape, an intensive agricultural landscape and a heterogenous landscape containing urban as well as highly forested areas, biodiversity along transportation verges was compared to that of reference plots located distant from these transportation routes. The results show that depending on the surrounding landscape, these verges can exhibit high levels of biodiversity, can support endangered species, and can offer significant opportunities for enhancing connectivity among species and ecosystems.
Verges along transportation networks play a significant role especially in agriculturally dominated landscapes, where they serve as refugia for various plants and animals. These findings underscore the importance of transportation verges of all transport modes in conserving and promoting biodiversity in human-altered environments. By recognizing this potential, ecologically adapted maintenance schemes applied across different traffic modes can support biodiversity conservation efforts without compromising efficient transportation network.

Conventional maintenance of transport infrastructure habitats and protected areas is costly and often unsustainable. Cost-saving and ecologically effective methods must therefore be sought. We test how the promotion of key species affects the vegetation, biomass and corridor functions of such areas. On local scale, we are interested in using hemiparasitic yellow rattle species (Rhinanthus spec.) as “bioengineers” and on supra-regional scale, in the re-establishment of red deer herds for similar functions. The local approach is presented in detail and its integration into the red deer scale will be outlined.
For the utilisation of Rhinanthus, the conditions for the establishment of its populations were investigated (substrate-dependent germination, establishment as function of sowing methods or mowing frequency). The effects on vegetation structure, herb diversity and insects were analysed by measurement of phytobiomass, establishment of additionally sown herbs, frequency of use by pollinators and grasshopper density. Consecutive effects are estimated by experimentally varying grasshopper densities and effects on the mobility of ground beetles are analysed by mark-recapture. Rhinanthus can reduce the biomass to be mowed by up to 75 % and thus enables (re-)colonisation by herbs, habitat improvement for insects and higher grasshopper density. Grasshoppers reduce leaf mass, leading to additional biomass reduction and less maintenance effort and ground beetles achieve higher dispersal rates. Similar effects, but on a different scale, plus the amplification of the Rhinanthus effect can be expected with conservation-oriented management of red deer.
The promotion of bioengineers is a silver bullet for the sustainable conservation of biodiversity.

Asian knotweeds (Reynoutria spp.) figures among the world’s worst invasive alien species due to their negative impacts on native taxa, ecosystem functioning, and human activities. Originated from Asia, Asian knotweeds are widely present in Europe particularly along linear infrastructure networks and railway rights-of-way, where they can disrupt the safe circulation of employees and the visibility of signal equipment, thus increasing maintenance requirements and costs. Their management is particularly complex: traditional methods do not succeed in controlling knotweeds and may even contribute to their dispersal. In response to this challenge, SNCF Réseau has launched an industrial and scientific partnership with INRAE to test the effectiveness of the tarping method, which consist in covering the ground with a fabric to create a physical barrier to the plant development. A unique full scale experimental project of tarping has been running since 2017 in Chalon-sur-Saône (France) on a railway property invaded by knotweeds, representing a total tarped area of 900m². Five experiments were carried out with a synthetic geotextile to assess the fabric covering distance required beyond the knotweed stand and to test different techniques of fixation to the ground, of fabric strips joints and of connection to obstacles (eg. concrete troughs). Our seven-year results demonstrate that tarping is immediately effective to limit the impact of knotweeds on railway activities, and is a useful non-chemical mitigation method. Based on these results, we make recommendations for improving the method and we propose a technical protocol and a good practices guide adapted to the railway context.

Creation of an AI-based solution to identify and mitigate invasive plant species along roads in Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland, targeting biodiversity protection. Existing manual monitoring by biologists in service vehicles is sporadic and insufficient for continuous controlling invasive species like rosa rugosa or lupine. The solution involves vehicle-mounted cameras using AI for constant invasive species identification, enabling automatic, real-time data collection for road authorities. This initiative demonstrates AI’s capability in transforming environmental protection efforts, offering a data-driven approach to tackle biodiversity threats. Trifork leverages its extensive experience in AI and image analysis for this project and is also working with the Road Administrations on a roadkill monitoring solution as part of the same solution. During the presentation you will see pictures and videos from the system in production and see the results of recognition and the potential usage of data for other purposes.

Highways are generally seen as a necessary means of transport. However, in recent years, the areas along motorways and expressways have started to be perceived more as an opportunity to support biodiversity, particularly in the context of recent decline of insect species, but in the Czech Republic practical applications are still missing. Within our study, we focused on practical use of previews of the project www.motyli-dalnice.cz. During 2024, we are going to apply species rich seed mixture along newly built 32 km of D4 highway (Prague – Strakonice). D4 highway connects the warmest region of Bohemia with cooler mesophytic environment of southern Bohemia, and therefore it can serve as an important migration route of thermophilic insect species. The construction of this stretch of the highway is the only PPP (Public Private Partnership) project in the Czech Republic. Seed mixture wasn’t applied on open rocks, which are left to natural succession, and trees and shrubs are planted in a particular way. Special maintenance will be applied there as well. All these activities are supposed to ensure high ecological value of the whole body of highway. We will present data from butterfly and plant monitoring – transect butterfly monitoring was done. Open rocks and tree groups were evaluated separately. We will present potential construction and maintenance issues and provide specific solutions to these issues. Early monitoring data will be presented as well, together with countryside context.

The Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, a governmental body, advocates for the integration of biodiversity in linear transport infrastructure projects. Our strategy includes: 1. Enhancing seed mixtures with herbaceous components, incorporating nectarivorous species, and prioritizing adherence to the local species pool. 2. Aligning shrub and tree plantings with the species composition found in regional natural habitats. 3. Utilizing unvegetated sections with rocky substrates to support local biodiversity. 4. Engaging the public actively in the volunteer project "Collecting Seeds for the Highway." Our challenges include the limited availability of herb seeds and planting materials of native species, presenting an opportunity for new market entrants.

The technical conditions are focused on the planting and care of vegetation on road plots in the countryside. To a reasonable extent, they are also suitable for the care of greenery along roads in municipalities. The newly developed conditions are intended to serve mainly road managers in the planning, planting and subsequent care of road vegetation, as well as designers for relevant proposals within the individual stages of pre-project and project preparation. The conditions summarize current knowledge that should contribute to a long-term sustainable solution to the vegetation along the road network, both in the context of changing climate conditions and above all from the point of view of minimizing financial costs.