Categorization Of Migration Barriers For Large Mammals In The Czech Republic

The landscape permeability for wildlife may be negatively affected by number of elements which create linear or surface barriers. The potential barriers are i.e. roads, railways, watercourses, urban zones, fenced areas etc. We evaluate all the existing barriers for migration of large mammals in the CR within the research project "Evaluation of the landscape permeability for large mammals and proposal of protective mitigating measures" leading by the Ministry of the Environment. Firstly, we evaluate the permeability of every barrier from totally impermeable to fully permeable and create the categorization map of migration barriers for large mammals in the CR. However, this assessment does not involve the cumulative effects of barriers. Secondly, we present the surface permeability model where the area is categorized taken into account the cumulative effect. This barrier assessment is one of the background materials for further demarcation of migration corridors. When the corridor crosses an existing barrier it is necessary to assess the level of its permeability. The permeability depends both on ecological requirements of particular species, and on the character of the barrier. The result is the assessment of the overall barrier effect and proposal of mitigating measures.