The Growing Practice of Road Ecology

Laura Tepper explains "road ecology", the intersection between transportation planning and habitat conservation.

1 minute read

October 3, 2011, 8:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur


Road ecologists study "...how roads act as barriers inhibiting the movement of plants, animals, water and soils; how traffic run-off contaminates surface and underground water; and how particulate emissions and noise pollution affect habitats."

But they also seek solutions for these problems. You may have never heard of road ecology, but it turns out many universities are on the cutting edge of this growing field:

"Major research centers now include the Road Ecology Center at UC Davis, the Center for Transportation and the Environment at North Carolina State University, and the Western Transportation Institute's Road Ecology Program at Montana State University."

Monday, October 3, 2011 in Places

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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