Transit versus Nature. Depreciation of Environmental Values of the Road Alleys. Case Study: Gamerki-Jonkowo, Poland

Marzena Suchocka, Magdalena Błaszczyk, Adam Juźwiak, Joanna Duriasz, Adam Bohdan and Jerzy Stolarczyk
Additional contact information
Marzena Suchocka: Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Horticulture, Biotechnology and Landscape Architecture, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Ul. Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
Magdalena Błaszczyk: Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Horticulture, Biotechnology and Landscape Architecture, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Ul. Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
Adam Juźwiak: Muzeum Zamkowe w Malborku, Dział Przyrody-Muzeum w Kwidzynie, Starościnska 1, 82-200 Malbork, Poland
Joanna Duriasz: Ad Natura Joanna Duriasz, Tęczowy Las 2A, 10-687 Bartąg, Poland
Adam Bohdan: Department of Ecology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40–007 Katowice, Poland
Jerzy Stolarczyk: Eko-trek, Jamnik 1, 55-140 Żmigród, Poland

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 6, 1-24

Abstract: Road alleys are multifunctional features in open landscapes that serve as ecological corridors connecting habitats, and play an important role in sustaining ecological stability. However, multiple road authorities claim that tree-lined routes pose a threat to traffic safety and should therefore be removed. This aspect of safety seems crucial to authorities, significantly overwhelming the benefits of road alleys. Problems with the vitality of the trees (which are mainly mature and aging) deliver arguments for cutting them down. The aim of this paper is to examine the environmental and natural value of road alleys based on a 14 km long section of the Gamerki—Jonkowo Road in the Province of Warmia (Northeast Poland). Further, we aim to verify the degree of hazard posed by trees to be felled for safety reasons. An examination framework with six components was developed for the research. This framework includes a tree risk assessment and vitality evaluation, pulling tests, an examination of the protected hermit beetle and lichen species, and an examination of bat fauna. The results revealed that no trees were in the resignation phase and confirmed that the alley is a unique natural habitat with protected species of lichen, a few bats, and valuable insect species, among others the hermit beetle ( Osmoderma barnabita ). Therefore, the alley cannot be perceived only as a component of the road infrastructure. The maintenance of the trees seems to be essential when taking into account the environmental stability of the region.

Keywords: road alleys; protection of road trees; tree cutting; green infrastructure management; biodiversity conservation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/6/1816/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/6/1816/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:6:p:1816-:d:217340

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().