Ecological knowledge in landscape planning
Journal
Landscape and Urban Planning
-
Volume 41, Issue 1
,
15 May 1998,
Pages 57-69
Authors
Rob C. Van Apeldoorn, Jan P. Knaapen, Peter Schippers, Jana Verboom,
Hans Van Engen and Henk Meeuwsen from the Institute for Forestry and Nature
Research, The Netherlands and The Winand Staring Centre, The Netherlands
Abstract
Ecological knowledge in landscape planning: a simulation
model as a tool to evaluate scenarios for the badger in the Netherlands.
The distribution of the Eurasian badger (Meles meles, L.) in the Netherlands
is fragmented and adult mortality is high in many places because of traffic
casualties. Both these facts affect the survival and dispersal of badgers in a
negative way and are suggested to be the main causes of the decline of this
species. For this reason the species receives special attention from the
government in the national Nature Policy Plan and also from the lower
administration in the provinces in their policy on physical planning and nature
conservation. To evaluate changes in land use by means of spatial scenarios and
conservation strategies in favour of the species, an individual-based simulation
model was built that describes population dynamics in space and time. The model
was used to evaluate three scenarios. The results indicate that the survival of
groups benefits strongly from measures directed at lowering adult mortality.
Also the (re)colonization of suitable but not inhabited areas increases the
survival and is favoured by measures that encourage dispersal. The results
indicate that simulation models as described are useful tools for establishing
the comparative effectiveness of plans or measures aimed at increasing the
viability of the species.
Keywords
Simulation models; Scenarios; Evaluation; Landscape
planning
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