Eco-Logical: An Ecosystem Approach to
Developing Infrastructure Projects
Report Documentation Page
Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188
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TITLE AND SUBTITLE:
Eco-logical: An Ecosystem Approach to Developing Infrastructure Projects
PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):
U.S. Department of TransportationResearch and Innovative Technology Administration
Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
55 Broadway, Kendall Square
Cambridge, MA 02142-1093
PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER:
DOT-VNTSC-FHWA-06-01
SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):
Office of Project Development and Environmental Review
Federal Highway Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation 400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY REPORT NUMBER:
FHWA-HEP-06-011
DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT:
This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161.
ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words):
Sometimes the development of infrastructure can negatively impact habitat and ecosystems. Ways to better avoid, minimize, and mitigate these impacts, as well as the impacts of past infrastructure projects, have been developed. Nevertheless, these avoidance, minimization, and mitigation efforts may not always provide the greatest environmental benefit, or may do very little to promote ecosystem sustainability. This concern, along with a 1995 Memorandum of Understanding to foster an ecosystem approach and the Enlibra Principles, brought together an interagency team to collaborate on writing Eco-Logical: An Ecosystem Approach to Developing Infrastructure Projects.
Eco-Logical is a guide to making infrastructure more sensitive to wildlife and ecosystems through greater interagency cooperative conservation. It describes ways for streamlining the processes that advance approvals for infrastructure projects—in compliance with applicable laws—while maintaining safety, environmental health, and effective public involvement. As a way to accomplish this, the guide outlines an approach for the comprehensive management of land, water, and biotic and abiotic resources that equitably promotes conservation and sustainable use. Key components of the approach include integrated planning, the exploration of a variety of mitigation options, and performance measurement.
SUBJECT TERMS:
Environment, ecosystem approach, integrated planning, infrastructure, wildlife, habitat, Regional Ecosystem Framework, mitigation, ecosystem-based mitigation, performance measurement, connectivity, predictability, conservation, transparency
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF REPORT:
Unclassified
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE:
Unclassified
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF ABSTRACT:
Unclassified
