The LIFE LINES Project - Linear Infrastructures Network with Ecological Solutions is co-funded by the EU, coordinated by the University of Évora, in partnership with Infraestruturas de Portugal, the municipal authorities of Évora and Montemor-o-Novo, the NGOs Marca and Quercus, and the Universities of Aveiro and Porto. This project is being run in the Central Alentejo region and aims to test, assess and disseminate measures to minimize the negative effects of linear infrastructure on fauna while also promoting the creation of a Green Infrastructure along such infrastructure to support the conservation of biodiversity. The goal is to provide habitats which are favorable for animal shelter, feeding and movement.
This project started in August 2015 and continued for a period of five years. It was also extended to continue until May 2021. During this Project, a range of measures and solutions were implemented to achieve planned objectives. These measures are now being monitored to verify their effectiveness with a view to optimizing their cost-benefit and future use in promoting the company's environmental sustainability.
The main project actions for which IP is responsible are:
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Compiling, structuring and operationalizing of a national database on animal collision incidents;
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Development of a mobile application to record animals involved in collision incidents. The app is free and available on google play;
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Provision of passageways for fauna in culverts so that animals can cross roads in safety;
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Improving fencing to stop animals entering roadways;
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Fitting fencing on embankments to stop colonies of rabbits from forming as well as their associated predators with the goal of avoiding collision incidents.
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Channeling of amphibians to culverts under the road by using special barriers;
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Installation of barriers to raise owl flight paths, thus avoiding their collision with vehicles;
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Installation of specific reflectors which reflect vehicle lights towards the outside of the road, thus alerting nocturnal birds in good time;
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Creation of a specific new road sign warning amphibians;
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Control of invasive species of flora on road embankments;
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Creation of micro-reserves in adjacent areas;
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Monitoring of fauna mortality in the project area;
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Volunteer work in nature conservation, involving IP workers and their respective families.
O Projeto LIFE LINES tem sido amplamente divulgado nos media graças às medidas inovadoras que têm sido implementadas. Apresenta-se seguidamente alguns links de filmes e reportagens:
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• Photography Project Billboard on the EN4 | @Luís Guilherme Sousa 2019
Infraestruturas de Portugal became a member of the Project LIFE+IBERLINCE - Recovery of the historic distribution of the Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Spain and Portugal (2011-2018) on 28 June 2016.
The aims of this project are to reintroduce this species into Portugal and Spain. A particular goal is to achieve original distribution patterns which will include peaceful coexistence with human activities. It is hoped that the Iberian lynx will be able to be removed from the list of highly endangered species.
Under this project, IP was involved in actions to overcome habitat fragmentation caused by roads and in the program to assess the results of the actions undertaken. The aims of the measures implemented by IP are to reduce lynx mortality as a result of collisions and increase the connectivity of territory separated by roads.
The first stage to reintroduce the Iberian lynx took place in the Vale do Guadiana Nature Reserve, in the Mértola area, and IP work took place mainly at the roads which cross this territory. The following roads were involved: ER265, EN122, IP2, ER123 and ER267, in a total length of around 200 km.
Work included cutting back roadside vegetation to increase visibility for drivers and keep animals away from the road, installing hazard signs warning of the specific danger for the Iberian lynx (an innovative sign created in collaboration with IP and which was recently approved), speed limit signs (70 km/h) and color strips to slow down traffic. Four culverts were also adapted to include dry passageways thus providing alternatives for animals to cross in safety.
The project ended in 2018 with a high success rate, and the Guadiana Valley became one of the re-introduction areas with greatest success in Spain and Portugal (ICNF, 2019 - Press Note). From 2015 to 2018, 37 lynx were released which established territories in the Guadiana Valley and 36 lynx kittens were born.
However, the risk of being hit by vehicles continues to be a threat for this species, so IP recently reinforced the measures initially applied, and others are planned for the near future. At the start of 2019, a speed control system was installed on the EN122 (on the stretch where three lynx were involved in collisions between 2018 and 2019), and in 2020 speed restriction panels were installed on the ER267 at the request of ICNF (as lynx had been seen crossing in this area).
After the project was concluded, Portugal and Spain joined forces once again to submit a new project to the European Union – the LynxConnect Project - which will allow the presence of the lynx to be consolidated as a top species and help balance and enhance Mediterranean ecosystems.
Under a protocol signed between IP and the University of Évora to “Assess the impact of mortality on vertebrate populations in roads of the Alto Alentejo, and its relation to the use of culverts”, a study was conducted to assess the use of culverts by vertebrates, the impact of mortality on their numbers and their relation with the use of passageways, and the importance of the landscape characteristics and roads on mortality.
See the final report here:
