Red-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Red-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), Mato Grosso do Sul, BrazRed-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Red-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), Mato Grosso do Sul, BrazRed-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil Red-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), Mato Grosso do Sul, BrazRed-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil Red-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), Mato Grosso do Sul, BrazRed-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil Red-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), Mato Grosso do Sul, BrazRed-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil Red-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), Mato Grosso do Sul, BrazRed-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

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Road ecology blog: Greater rhea (Rhea americana) crosses right-of-way fence, near Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Near threatened (IUCN, 2017)

Greater rhea (Rhea americana), near Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul,Greater rhea (Rhea americana), near Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Near threatened (IUCN, 2017) Greater rhea (Rhea americana), near Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul,Greater rhea (Rhea americana), near Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Near threatened (IUCN, 2017) Greater rhea (Rhea americana), near Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul,Greater rhea (Rhea americana), near Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Near threatened (IUCN, 2017) Greater rhea (Rhea americana), near Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul,Greater rhea (Rhea americana), near Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Near threatened (IUCN, 2017)

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Red-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The red rocks in the background are the walls of a giant sinkhole. The  macaws use the ledges to nest and the shady side of the sinkhole provides relief from the hot sun.

Red-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), Mato Grosso do Sul, BrazilRed-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

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Wildlife overpass, Ruta 101, Misiones, Argentina

Wildlife overpass, Ruta 101, Misiones, ArgentinaWildlife overpass, Ruta 101, Misiones, Argentina Wildlife overpass, Ruta 101, Misiones, ArgentinaWildlife overpass, Ruta 101, Misiones, Argentina Wildlife overpass, Ruta 101, Misiones, ArgentinaWildlife overpass, Ruta 101, Misiones, Argentina

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For images of landscape bridges, road tunnels or very wide overpasses over longer road sections click here.

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Red-winged tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens), Brazil. Captive animal.

Red-winged tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens), Brazil. Captive animal.Red-winged tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens), Brazil. Captive animal.

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Road ecology blog: Azara's agouti (Dasyprocta azarae) on dirt road, Parque Nacional Iguazú, Argentina

Azara's agouti (Dasyprocta azarae) on dirt road, Parque NacionalAzara's agouti (Dasyprocta azarae) on dirt road, Parque Nacional Iguazú, Argentina

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Squirrel cuckoo (Piaya cayana), Parque Nacional Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina

Squirrel cuckoo (Piaya cayana), Parque Nacional Iguazú, MisionSquirrel cuckoo (Piaya cayana), Parque Nacional Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina

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Road ecology blog: Butterflies mud-puddling on a dirt road, Iguazu National Park, Misiones, Argentina. The butterflies congregate on wet soil for salts and other nutrients.

Butterflies mud-puddling, Iguazu National Park, Misiones, ArgentButterflies mud-puddling, Iguazu National Park, Misiones, Argentina. The butterflies congregate on wet soil for salts and other nutrients.

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Marcel Huijser drives the camper van, near Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

Marcel Huijser drives the camper van, near Glacier National ParkMarcel Huijser drives the camper van, near Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

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Road ecology blog: The abandoned dirt road Estrada do Colono (- Settler's Road-), Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Brazil

The abandoned dirt road Estrada do Colono (" Settler's Road"), Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Brazil. This dirt road used to cut across the national park and threatened the integrity and connectivity of the park. The road had illegal settlements and deforestation and poaching associated with it. The road was closed in 1986, but locals started using the road again illegally between 1997 and 2001. In 2001 the road was declared formally closed again, and the illegal settlers were removed. The illegal ferry on the southeast side of the park across the river "Rio Iguaçu" that provided access to the road north of the river was blown up and sunk by law enforcement personnel. Since then the road has been abandoned. Grass-herb vegetation, shrubs and trees now grow on the old road bed. Note that the roadbed was not removed, the road was simply no longer used. The substrate is compacted, the ditches are still present on either side, and the culverts for the streams were never removed.

Ideally, the roadbed, ditches and culverts should have been removed, and the soil should have been de-compacted. This would have allowed for a more rapid and natural direction of the succession, and it would have restored the hydrology. However, given the time passed since the most recent closure, the level of regrowth, and political sensitivities, it seems best to leave the situation as is rather than go in with heavy equipment.

The abandoned dirt road Estrada do Colono (" Settler's Road"),The abandoned dirt road Estrada do Colono (" Settler's Road"), Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Brazil. This dirt road used to cut across the national park and threatetend the integrity and connectivity of the park. The road had illegal settlements and deforestation and poaching associated with it. The road was closed in 1986, but locals started using the road again illegally between 1997 and 2001. In 2001 the road was declared formally closed again, and the illegal settlers were removed. Since then the road has been abandoned. Grass-herb vegetation, shrubs and trees now grow on the old road bed. Note that the roadbed was not removed. The substrate is compacted, and the ditches are still present on either side. The abandoned dirt road Estrada do Colono (" Settler's Road"),The abandoned dirt road Estrada do Colono (" Settler's Road"), Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Brazil. This dirt road used to cut across the national park and threatetend the integrity and connectivity of the park. The road had illegal settlements and deforestation and poaching associated with it. The road was closed in 1986, but locals started using the road again illegally between 1997 and 2001. In 2001 the road was declared formally closed again, and the illegal settlers were removed. Since then the road has been abandoned. Grass-herb vegetation, shrubs and trees now grow on the old road bed. Note that the roadbed was not removed. The substrate is compacted, and the ditches are still present on either side.

Image below: The ditches of the road are still in place

Ditch along the abandoned dirt road Estrada do Colono (" SettlerDitch along the abandoned dirt road Estrada do Colono (" Settler's Road"), Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Brazil. This dirt road used to cut across the national park and threatetend the integrity and connectivity of the park. The road had illegal settlements and deforestation and poaching associated with it. The road was closed in 1986, but locals started using the road again illegally between 1997 and 2001. In 2001 the road was declared formally closed again, and the illegal settlers were removed. Since then the road has been abandoned. Grass-herb vegetation, shrubs and trees now grow on the old road bed. Note that the roadbed was not removed. The substrate is compacted, and the ditches are still present on either side. The abandoned dirt road Estrada do Colono (" Settler's Road"),The abandoned dirt road Estrada do Colono (" Settler's Road"), Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Brazil. This dirt road used to cut across the national park and threatetend the integrity and connectivity of the park. The road had illegal settlements and deforestation and poaching associated with it. The road was closed in 1986, but locals started using the road again illegally between 1997 and 2001. In 2001 the road was declared formally closed again, and the illegal settlers were removed. Since then the road has been abandoned. Grass-herb vegetation, shrubs and trees now grow on the old road bed. Note that the roadbed was not removed. The substrate is compacted, and the ditches are still present on either side. The abandoned dirt road Estrada do Colono (" Settler's Road"),The abandoned dirt road Estrada do Colono (" Settler's Road"), Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Brazil. This dirt road used to cut across the national park and threatetend the integrity and connectivity of the park. The road had illegal settlements and deforestation and poaching associated with it. The road was closed in 1986, but locals started using the road again illegally between 1997 and 2001. In 2001 the road was declared formally closed again, and the illegal settlers were removed. Since then the road has been abandoned. Grass-herb vegetation, shrubs and trees now grow on the old road bed. Note that the roadbed was not removed. The substrate is compacted, and the ditches are still present on either side.

Image below: a concrete culvert across a creek was never removed and now is in pieces in the creek bed.

Broken culvert along the abandoned dirt road Estrada do ColonoBroken culvert along the abandoned dirt road Estrada do Colono (" Settler's Road"), Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Brazil. This dirt road used to cut across the national park and threatetend the integrity and connectivity of the park. The road had illegal settlements and deforestation and poaching associated with it. The road was closed in 1986, but locals started using the road again illegally between 1997 and 2001. In 2001 the road was declared formally closed again, and the illegal settlers were removed. Since then the road has been abandoned. Grass-herb vegetation, shrubs and trees now grow on the old road bed. Note that the roadbed was not removed. The substrate is compacted, and the ditches are still present on either side. The abandoned dirt road Estrada do Colono (" Settler's Road"),The abandoned dirt road Estrada do Colono (" Settler's Road"), Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Brazil. This dirt road used to cut across the national park and threatetend the integrity and connectivity of the park. The road had illegal settlements and deforestation and poaching associated with it. The road was closed in 1986, but locals started using the road again illegally between 1997 and 2001. In 2001 the road was declared formally closed again, and the illegal settlers were removed. Since then the road has been abandoned. Grass-herb vegetation, shrubs and trees now grow on the old road bed. Note that the roadbed was not removed. The substrate is compacted, and the ditches are still present on either side.

The abandoned dirt road Estrada do Colono (" Settler's Road"),The abandoned dirt road Estrada do Colono (" Settler's Road"), Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Brazil. This dirt road used to cut across the national park and threatetend the integrity and connectivity of the park. The road had illegal settlements and deforestation and poaching associated with it. The road was closed in 1986, but locals started using the road again illegally between 1997 and 2001. In 2001 the road was declared formally closed again, and the illegal settlers were removed. Since then the road has been abandoned. Grass-herb vegetation, shrubs and trees now grow on the old road bed. Note that the roadbed was not removed. The substrate is compacted, and the ditches are still present on either side.

The abandoned dirt road Estrada do Colono (" Settler's Road"),The abandoned dirt road Estrada do Colono (" Settler's Road"), Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Brazil. This dirt road used to cut across the national park and threatetend the integrity and connectivity of the park. The road had illegal settlements and deforestation and poaching associated with it. The road was closed in 1986, but locals started using the road again illegally between 1997 and 2001. In 2001 the road was declared formally closed again, and the illegal settlers were removed. Since then the road has been abandoned. Grass-herb vegetation, shrubs and trees now grow on the old road bed. Note that the roadbed was not removed. The substrate is compacted, and the ditches are still present on either side.

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Camper van near Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

Camper van near Glacier National Park, Montana, USACamper van near Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

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Rocky Mountain landscapes: Wild Goose Island, St. Mary Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana. In Infrared with snow storm coming.

Wild Goose Island, St. Mary Lake, Glacier National Park, MontanaWild Goose Island, St. Mary Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana. In Infrared with snow storm coming.

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Road ecology blog: Natural canopy connectivity across Ruta 101, Dirt road, Iguazu falls, Iguazu National Park, Misiones, Argentina

Natural canopy connectivity across Ruta 101, Dirt road, Iguazu fNatural canopy connectivity across Ruta 101, Dirt road, Iguazu falls, Iguazu National Park, Misiones, Argentina

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