Land intrusion

Transport infrastructure consists of roads, railways, waterways, harbours, airports, garages, depots and parking places, and can never be environmentally neutral. These structures cover land that could possibly be put to other use or left in a natural state.

In short, natural habitats are irreversibly destroyed when transport facilities are built. In many cases, re-cultivation measures are not carried out for quarries, spills and leaks of hazardous substances, and abandoned rail lines.

Transport infrastructure also creates barriers within natural habitats that impede animal migrations.

In all European countries, the road network is much larger than the rail network. In recent years, the greatest rates of increase in road construction in Europe have been for motorways.