Abstract
This paper presents an integrated approach to mitigation wetland site selection using functional landscape connectivity and landscape structure. This approach enables landscape designers to evaluate the relative priorities of mitigation wetland areas based on functional landscape connectivity and wildlife mobility, as well as landscape structure, composition, and configuration. The least-cost path method is used to evaluate candidate sites for mitigation wetlands with regard to wildlife movement. A set of assessments for landscape indices using FRAGSTATS was applied to identify suitable mitigation wetland areas on the basis of landscape connectivity, composition, and configuration. The study was conducted in Gwacheon, Korea, where there are plans for regional development that will change the landscape. In the first step, a group of 14 candidate sites is identified via analysis of functional landscape connectivity using the least-cost path method. In the second step, candidate mitigation wetland areas are ranked according to landscape connectivity and composition. The five mitigation wetland areas that were found to be suitable were analyzed based on landscape configuration at the class level. This study demonstrates that functional landscape connectivity and landscape structure are important aspects to consider when identifying suitable sites for mitigation wetland planning and restoration.
Highlights
Wetlands are transitional zones between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and are rich repositories of biodiversity as wildlife habitats
This paper presents a geographic information system (GIS)-based site selection approach for mitigation wetland planning based on the integration of functional landscape connectivity and landscape structure
This study describes a process for suitable site selection based on functional landscape connectivity and landscape structure, and this process could be a helpful tool for the implementation of the “No Net Loss of Wetland” policy in sustainable small urban areas
Summary
Wetlands are transitional zones between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and are rich repositories of biodiversity as wildlife habitats. Mitigation wetlands can be positive countermeasures to restore fragmented and isolated biotopes in a regional ecosystem if they are located at suitable sites based on the integrated consideration of functional landscape connectivity and landscape structure. This paper presents a geographic information system (GIS)-based site selection approach for mitigation wetland planning based on the integration of functional landscape connectivity and landscape structure This approach enables landscape designers to evaluate the relative priorities of mitigation wetland areas as a habitat for medium- and large-sized mammals based on connectivity, composition, and configuration. This study describes a process for suitable site selection based on functional landscape connectivity and landscape structure, and this process could be a helpful tool for the implementation of the “No Net Loss of Wetland” policy in sustainable small urban areas
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