Habitat fragmentation, the splitting of natural habitats and ecosystems into smaller and more isolated patches, is recognised as one of the most important global threats to the conservation of biological diversity. Habitat fragmentation is mainly a result of changes in land use, but a major impact also results from the barrier effect caused by the construction and use of linear infrastructure of transportation systems. The project COST 341 Habitat fragmentation due to transportation infrastructure started in 1998, and 16 countries have been officially involved in the initiative. The project has produced a European review on habitat fragmentation on a European level, built upon reports from the participating countries. The project found a strong awareness of the problem throughout Europe and that a diversity of solutions to the problem has been tried out. However, there is still a need for yet a systematically approach, retrofitting existing infrastructure where necessary, and integrating concerns on fragmentation in the planning of new ones. The most important outcome of the COST 341 Action is the handbook Wildlife and traffic - A European handbook for identifying conflicts and designing solutions. It's a solution-orientated handbook, based upon the accumulated knowledge of a broad range of experts from the participating countries and from numerous international contacts. It gives practical guidance to the various actors involved in the planning, construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructures. This paper presents the major findings of the European review and an overview of the contents of the handbook. For the covering abstract see ITRD E135448.
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