Abstract
Over the last few decades, the Chilean Government has constantly promoted the construction of private highways in order to increase the effectiveness in terms of transportation of goods and people all along the country. In this way, heavy road infrastructures, landscape fragmentation, loss of endangered animals’ habitat, loss of visual quality, and a decrease of biodiversity patches have emerged. Despite this, some greenery – native and introduced flora/fauna, natural elements, colors, lines, patterns, among others- can be partly seen in certain areas of Chilean highways. In particular, this paper focuses on the main route connecting Puerto Montt and Pargua cities in Los Lagos region.The objectives of this qualitative research are threefold. Firstly, to measure main Landscape attributes and Visual scale characteristics through a fieldwork by the roadside of Pargua highway (Alto Bonito Area) using a scale of attributes adapted from Tveit et al. (2007). Secondly, to measure the type of vegetation through an environmental inventory (phytosociological analysis). Thirdly, to measure the degree of management of the highway considering its maintenance and human intervention.Wilderness and Naturalness are scarcely observed on the roadside due to a concentrated presence of human interventions such as landfills and overpasses. The visual scale is checked in fieldwork from several scopes. On the southeast side of the road, Las Canchas Area is covered by high trees, houses, and industries which hinder the view of the natural surrounding landscape. On the right side of the road, it presents a clear skyline of Calbuco and Osorno volcanoes. Finally, any management of high quality of the visual scenery of this type of landscape from the route concessionaire is is randomly done. However, the vegetation surface itself has been working out a way to protect the land from erosion and desertification.
Highlights
1.1 Background InformationHighways have become a universal way to transport goods, people, and animals since their massive appearance by the end of the nineteenth century
Given that highway verges could be favorable to birds, they may complement the dominant environment within a landscape (Meunier et al 1999)
A checklist was created to measure the naturalness characteristics based on Tveit et al (2007) using the categories and the variables observed in the fieldtrip as well as the photographs
Summary
Highways have become a universal way to transport goods, people, and animals since their massive appearance by the end of the nineteenth century. The engineering of roads, its traffic related issues, and its management was given the highest importance whereas the ecological issues were neglected by the highway authorities (Spellerberg 2002; Akbar et al 2003). Roadside greenery aids in reducing the heat island effect and atmospheric pollution. The small mammal population that lives nearby highways feeds from plants which are contaminated with lead and other noxious atmospheric particles (Quarles III et al 1974). Given that highway verges could be favorable to birds, they may complement the dominant environment within a landscape (Meunier et al 1999)
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