The International Scan Tour Addressing Wildlife Ecology and Transportation Issues in Europe

Mary Gray, FHWA
(208) 334-9180 x123

On the road looking for best practices in Europe. (Green Bridge in Germany)

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are co-sponsors of this International Outreach Program. The purpose of the program is to exchange information with counterparts overseas and to compare technologies for potential domestic applications.

The objective of this international Technology Scan was to identify European activities in the area of

1. national initiatives;
2. technology tools,
3. wildlife assessment methodologies,
4. mitigation measures, and
5. effectiveness of the programs, methodologies and mitigation measures.

The ultimate objective is to transfer appropriate best practices to the United States transportation community

Slovenia, Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands were chosen for the scan because of their wildlife activities. This delegation met with representatives from the transportation and environmental ministries, research organizations, consultants and non-governmental organizations. The trip was conducted from October 5, 2001 to October 21, 2001.

Scan Team Row 1: Raymond Sauvajot (National Park Service), Alex Levy (FHWA), and Hans Bekker (Host in Netherlands). Row 2: Geesje Veenbaas (Netherlands Guide), Fred Bank (FHWA), John Kinar (Wisconsin DOT), David Scott (Vermont DOT), Tatiania Damarad (Netherlands Guide), and Mary Gray (FHWA). Row 3: Dale Paulson (FHWA), Leroy Irwin (Florida DOT), Trisha White (Defenders of Wildlife), Susan Hagood (Humane Society of the US), Gary Evink (Scan facilitator), and Bill Ruediger (Forest Service)

The delegation was assembled under the FHWA International Technology Scanning Program. A multi-disciplinary team was assembled including staff from FHWA, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. National Park Service, Florida, Vermont and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation, The Humane Society of the United States and Defenders of Wildlife.