As illustrated in the Decision Support Tool, there are several steps in the processes of habitat fragmentation assessment and the evaluation and selection of appropriate mitigation solutions. These steps are based on information obtained through surveys of DOT staff actively engaged in assessing and mitigating habitat fragmentation impacts, and through a review of literature documenting both the assessment process and implementation of mitigation solutions. The tool is designed to illustrate a conceptual framework to assist practioners in thinking through the data collection, coordination and analysis steps to address key issues and questions related to habitat fragmentation. The practioners are then directed to examples of solutions to mitigate connectivity and patch (habitat) impacts. Assessing the effects of habitat fragmentation and evaluating appropriate mitigation solutions can be a complex undertaking that can require interdisciplinary experts in the fields of biology, ecology, hydrology and engineering. Practioners are encouraged to adopt a team approach when engaging in this type of assessment and in the selection of locations for mitigation solutions, especially when addressing connectivity.
The Decision Support Tool also provides references to research papers, reports and methods for further review by practioners. New research papers and reports are regularly published on related topics; the Decision Support Tool should be supplemented by new findings and approaches to habitat fragmentation assessment and mitigation solutions, especially on the species level.
Several areas of further research were identified that could improve the decision process for the evaluation and adoption of mitigation solutions. There are few cost-benefit analyses for mitigation measures available (Huijser et al, 2009) and few transportation agencies track costs for mitigation measures and long term maintenance. Related to the costs of mitigation is a lack of long term or detailed monitoring programs to determine the effectiveness of mitigation actions. In addition, the monetary value derived from maintaining ecosystem services attributable to habitat connectivity and patch mitigation are not well defined. There is a need for further research and documentation of construction, maintenance and monitoring costs of mitigation solutions that can be paired with measures of effectiveness to aid transportation agencies in selecting cost effective solutions in the future.