086 - Wildlife-friendly linear infrastructure

086 - Wildlife-friendly linear infrastructure

Latest version in this language: Version as adopted by electronic vote | Published on: 18 Nov 2020

ALARMED by proliferation of linear infrastructure – roads, railways, canals, power lines, fences and pipelines – into some of the most biodiverse, intact, undisturbed, and important ecosystems in the world, including protected areas, other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) and other natural areas;

AWARE that linear infrastructure harms wildlife, especially through mortality and barriers to movement and ecological connectivity, driving habitat and biodiversity loss by opening remote areas to human exploitation;

FURTHER AWARE that the most effective conservation measure to limit impacts of linear infrastructure on the environment is avoidance of new or expanded development, especially in areas of importance for biodiversity, ecological connectivity, and ecosystem integrity;

CONCERNED that financial investment in linear infrastructure can saddle developing economies with lasting environmental degradation and long-term debt;

RECALLING adoption of more than ten IUCN Resolutions since 1996 addressing impacts of infrastructure on species and ecosystems, including Resolution 6.102 Protected areas and other areas important for biodiversity in relation to environmentally damaging industrial activities and infrastructure development (Hawai‘i, 2016);

NOTING that the 2017 International Forum on Sustainable Infrastructure resulted in the ‘Hanoi Principles’ for planning, designing and financing ecologically sound linear infrastructure;

RECOGNISING the World Commission on Protected Areas’s (WCPA’s) preparation of guidance for connectivity conservation impacted by linear transportation infrastructure;

CONVINCED that the impacts of linear infrastructure on the environment are sufficiently well-known to be addressed through the use of the mitigation hierarchy (avoid, minimise, restore, compensate); and

FURTHER CONVINCED that increased knowledge, expanded expertise, and strengthened partnerships are necessary to deliver existing and new frameworks, including the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, to integrate science, policy and best practices that avoid and mitigate adverse impacts of linear infrastructure;

The IUCN World Conservation Congress, at its session in Marseille, France:

1. CALLS ON the Director General and Members to emphasise in the IUCN Programme 2021–2024 provision of scientific, technical and policy approaches to avoid impacts of linear infrastructure on the environment, and to mitigate impacts when necessary;

2. REQUESTS Members, all components of the Union, governments and agencies, intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, local communities, indigenous peoples, and financial institutions, to increase collaboration to implement existing guidance, guidelines and standards, including the 2017 ‘Hanoi Principles’ adopted by the International Forum on Sustainable Infrastructure, for more effective new and existing linear infrastructure avoidance and mitigation, based on specific targets and indicators, and to develop:

a. scientifically rigorous research, data collection, analysis, evaluation and reporting protocols;

b. methodologies for accurate quantification of adverse impacts at appropriate spatial and temporal scales;

c. evidence-based spatial plans, where possible, incorporating the needs of wildlife and ecological connectivity;

d. nature-based solutions and mitigation measures for incorporation into short-term and long-term strategies; and

e. rigorous monitoring and evaluation to determine the effectiveness of measures;

3. INVITES all relevant actors to consider of high importance the need to reduce wildlife mortality, maintain ecological connectivity, and to provide all other necessary protections for biodiversity, including exceeding compliance with existing laws and policies, when developing new, and addressing existing, linear infrastructure impacting areas of importance for biodiversity, ecological connectivity, and ecosystem integrity, including protected areas, OECMs, Key Biodiversity Areas, World Heritage sites, and other natural areas; and

4. FURTHER INVITES all relevant actors to develop, promote, and sustain a diverse coalition that mainstreams wildlife-friendly linear infrastructure in science, policy, and practice.

It is estimated that there are over 100 million kilometers (km) of roads on Earth, with a projected 25 million km more to be built by 2050. In addition, 300,000 km of new rail lines are projected by be added by 2050. Expansion of road and railway networks—as well as other linear infrastructure, including canals, powerlines, fences and pipelines—into previously intact areas threatens the structural and functional ecological connectivity of landscapes, harms wildlife through direct and indirect mortality, and enables further human disturbance through illegal logging and mining, poaching, and encroachment. We are entering a time of unprecedented infrastructure development, where roughly 90% of the projected new roads and railways are to be built in developing countries and tropical regions. Decisive action to oppose the numerous ecological threats of linear infrastructure is necessary.

This motion emphasizes the urgent need for scientific, technical, and policy solutions, as well as increased collaboration between IUCN constituencies and other relevant stakeholders, to confront the proliferation of linear infrastructure and its adverse effects. The motion builds on over 20 years of efforts at IUCN to address impacts of extractive industries and infrastructure on species and ecosystems. Related resolutions include:
1) 2016-102 “Protected areas and other areas important for biodiversity in relation to environmentally damaging industrial activities and infrastructure development”
2) 2016-067 “Best practice for industrial-scale development projects”
3) 2012-037 “The importance of nature conservation criteria in land-use planning policies”
4) 2008-136 “Biodiversity, protected areas, indigenous people and mining activities”
5) 2008-088 “Establishing the IUCN Extractive Industry Responsibility Initiative”
6) 2008-087 “Impacts of infrastructure and extractive industries on protected areas”
7) 2004-087 “Financial institutions and the World Commission on Dams recommendations”
8) 2004-3111 “Impact of roads and other infrastructure through the ecosystem of Darién”
9) 2000-82 “Protection and conservation of biological diversity of protected areas from the negative impacts of mining and exploration;
10) 2000-34 “Multilateral and bilateral financial institutions and projects impacting on biodiversity”
11) 1996-51 “Indigenous Peoples, Mineral and Oil Extraction, Infrastructure and Development Works
  • Center for Environmental Legal Studies [United States of America]
  • Center for Large Landscape Conservation [United States of America]
  • China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation [China]
  • Cornell Botanic Gardens [United States of America]
  • Fundació Catalunya-La Pedrera [Spain]
  • Fundatia Carpati [Romania]
  • International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development [Nepal]
  • International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation [Hungary]
  • Rewilding Europe [The Netherlands]
  • The Corbett Foundation [India]
  • World Wide Fund for Nature - International [Switzerland]
  • World Wildlife Fund - US [United States of America]

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