Introduction to special issue on hydrologic and geomorphic effects of forest roads

Abstract

Roads have been a part of human landscapes for more than 40 centuries. During the 20th century, technological advances have increased our ability to construct new roads at unprecedented rates and into steeper terrain. In the last half of that century, an extensive network of roads has been constructed in forests and other wildlands to facilitate use and management of natural resources. They are the transportation system that allows transport of timber and minerals from forests and access for recreationists, land managers, fire fighters, and residents of villages or vacation homes.

Unfortunately, forest road construction may result in adverse changes to the environment. Roads fragment terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems by acting as a barrier to movement of some animals and plants. Roads can act as transportation corridors for plants, animals and fungi, some desirable, some not. Roads also affect the movement of water and sediment through landscapes. The combination of effects can be detrimental to native terrestrial and aquatic organisms, and negative correlations between road density and fish stocks have been noted (Lee et al., 1997; Thompson and Lee, 2000).

Citation

Luce, Charles H.; Wemple, Beverley C. 2001. Introduction to special issue on hydrologic and geomorphic effects of forest roads. Earth surface processes and landforms. 26(2): 111-113