A global assessment of roadless areas.

We present a detailed and comprehensive global assessment of roadless areas based on open-access road information (OpenStreetMap). For the purpose of this study, we review the size of the road-effect zone reported in the literature for a wide range of road ecological effects. Roadless areas are identified by establishing 1-km buffers along all existing roads and mapping the resulting polygons. These polygons representing the remaining roadless areas on Earth are evaluated according to their size and the quality of their territories. Protected area coverage and degree of strict protection are analysed, as well as attributes such as ecosystem functionality, species richness or biomes/anthromes. Accuracy of data is discussed taking into account different data sources. The results will be used for a global interactive assessment and a campaign for roadless area conservation.

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Hoffmann M. Ibisch P.L. Freudenberger L. Kreft S. Pe’er G. Kati V. Hobson P.R. Arsenis K. y Selva N. A global assessment of roadless areas. Infrastructure & Ecology Network Europe, 2014.

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Resource type Text
Date of creation 2025-05-23
Date of last revision 2025-05-23
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Metadata identifier 85da15af-d4c5-5ab4-bc93-ad774d761c0c
Metadata language Spanish
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ISO 19115 topic category biota
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Name of the dataset creator Hoffmann, M., Ibisch, P.L., Freudenberger, L., Kreft, S., Pe’er, G., Kati, V., Hobson, P.R., Arsenis, K. y Selva, N.
Name of the dataset editor Infrastructure & Ecology Network Europe
Other identifier ISBN: 978-91-637-7327-3
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