“The need to include the community´s perspective," is Andreas Seiler´s answer to the question about what Include´s research has found to be of paramount importance.“And an increased understanding of the landscape connection. The lack of concrete and practical goals for the transport sector, concerning the landscape, is also important," he adds.
It is vital to address the issues surrounding the landscape at an early stage in the planning procedure of infrastructure projects and to get more input from citizens in the decision-making process. It might sound simple; however, new tools and templates are needed in the planning phase of work.
“Factors such as the informal planning process are gaining more attention. Above all, the realization that informal processes are essential is gaining ground. However, these factors are difficult to measure and to influence. It is a matter of not viewing environmental and cultural aspects as mutually exclusive obstacles, but including them as a natural part of the planning process," says Andreas Seiler.
Less quality of Life
When the landscape is fragmented by roads and railroads, it becomes more difficult for animals and humans to navigate the landscape. The quality of life decrease and social, cultural and ecological values disappear.
“When it comes to infrastructure projects, it is common to work in a reactive way, meaning you react to the problems as they appear rather than avoiding them. It has to be about integrated adjustments or integrated solutions to indicate that considerations are made from the outset," says Andreas Seiler.
A fundamental requirement for infrastructure planning is, therefore, to incorporate the landscape issues on the strategic level and not, as is done today, in the later phases in the planning process where the possibilities to find sustainable solutions are miniscule.
The results must be communicated
The research team at Include points out that there are different types of tools and approaches to get the landscape issues included at the planning stage. Complex models are not necessary. A simple, easily communicated and effective approach is preferable. A new awareness is entering the consciousness of road designers, who more and more need to act as both landscape and societal planners.
Andreas Seiler calls for concrete environmental goals: “They are not clear enough or operable for the transport sector. The national transport political goals have to allow for formulating usable landscape goals," he says.
When Include finishes its mission, the research will continue, but in a different format. With financing help from the Swedish National Road Administration and the National Rail Administration (Vägverket and Banverket), the program director of Include, J.O. Helldin, and Andreas Seiler will continue studying biological diversity and interference effects.
Networks are important road networks
Andreas Seiler is a board member of the European network IENE, short for Infra Eco Network Europe, working to increase the interaction between researchers and practitioners of landscape issues. Anders Sjölund is the president of IENE.
IENE has helped many European countries with extensive action plans to counter the disintegration effects by infrastructure. Now, Sweden is getting the opportunity to catch up. Initially, the network is being partly financed by Vägverket, the road infrastructure bureau.
“We have also created a Swedish network, very much like IENE," Andreas Seiler reveals.
