Uncovering barriers and paths for ensuring road mitigation to reduce wildlife collisions: Establishing grounds for action

Abstract

Mitigating wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC) is crucial for reducing roadkill and preserving biodiversity. This study identifies barriers to WVC mitigation and proposes solutions through an exploratory literature review and formal expert elicitation. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 17 WVC specialists from diverse regions of Brazil, coding 10 key barriers and achieving consensus on 22 solutions. The barriers identified encompass a range of economic, social, political, and technical factors, including road manager type, lack of public policy, and limited societal awareness. The BR-262 highway case study further contextualizes our findings, illustrating how these barriers manifest in real-world scenarios. Co-created strategies with stakeholders emerged as the most effective, with high levels of agreement among specialists. Our results underscore that unaddressed barriers limit the effectiveness of mitigation measures, stressing the need for collaborative approaches that integrate public policy, community engagement, and technical innovation to overcome these challenges.