Spatial Assessment of the Potential Impact of Infrastructure Development on Biodiversity Conservation in Lowland Nepal

Roshan Sharma,Bhagawat Rimal,Himlal Baral,Maheshwar Dhakal,Nigel Stork

doi:10.3390/ijgi7090365

Abstract

Biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate with infrastructure development being one of the leading causes. New infrastructure, such as roads, provides new access and results in increased land clearing and wildlife hunting. A number of large infrastructure projects, including new roads and rail, are being planned in Nepal. We show the application of readily available remotely sensed data and geospatial tools to assess the potential impact of these future developments on habitat quality under three protection-level scenarios. Our findings reveal that there is currently large spatial heterogeneity in habitat quality across the landscape as a result of current anthropogenic threats, and that three areas in particular could have up to 40% reduction in habitat quality as a result of the planned infrastructure. Further research is required to determine more precisely the impact on key species. Strengthening protected areas and buffer zones will contribute to mitigating degradation to some degree, however, large areas of biologically significant areas outside protected areas will be affected without new controls. Our geographic information systems (GIS) based methodology could be used to conduct studies in data poor developing countries, where rapid infrastructure development across ecological sites are ongoing, in order to make society, policy makers, and development planners aware.

Highlights

Biodiversity is declining across the globe at an unprecedented rate [1,2]
Habitat quality losses at pixel levels are more pronounced and reach up to 40% in several areas in each of the scenarios (Figure 5)
The results suggest that the proposed infrastructure will cross and disproportionately degrade high quality habitat areas regardless of protection levels

Summary

Introduction

The key drivers of biodiversity loss have been identified as land use and land cover changes, pollution, climate change, and infrastructure development [3,4,5,6,7] Linear infrastructures such as roads, railways, powerlines, pipelines, and irrigation canals have negative impacts [8,9], including habitat loss and fragmentation, disturbance due to barrier and edge effects, encroachments, road mortality, enhancement of invasive species, and increased illegal activities such as poaching and logging [9,10,11]. These kinds of assessments could indicate to policymakers and land planners the implications of proposed development and suggest how to better reconcile biodiversity conservation [15]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion