Project goals

The main goal of this project is to develop a comprehensive technological solution for landscaping highway and road slopes particularly in the vicinity of specially protected areas, where these linear landscape elements pose a significant threat to native fauna and flora (mainly due to the spread of invasive species). Native plant species can be encouraged on these slopes, with regularly mowing and maintenance, to create habitat for many endangered species of butterflies and conveniently connect isolated metapopulations between neighboring protected areas.

The introduction of indigenous hemiparasitic plants of the genus Rhinanthus sp. on grassy slopes along with planting of low-productivity grass-forb mixtures, including plants with high nutrient plant species for butterflies, in new highway constructions will not only support biodiversity but also reduce the long-term financial and energetic costs of highway slope maintenance.

 
Expected results of applied research (with date of accomplishment)

Specialized road slopes map to tackle migration corridors (12/2018)
Proven technology of hemiparasitic plant seed production (12/2018)
Proven technology of seed production of nutritious plants for butterflies (12/2018)
Slope type landscaping for new technical conditions of the Ministry of Transport (5/2019)
Methodology for biodiversity support on both existing and new highway slopes (5/2019)
Methodology for the development and use of seed mixtures supporting invertebrates (5/2019)