Spatially Explicit Risk-Based Approaches for Assessing Ecological Value and Reuse Options of Former Military Sites. I. Linkov, ICF Consulting; A. Grebenkov, Institute of Power Engineering, Belarus; and V. Baitchorov, Institute of Zoology, Belarus
As a result of defense-related activities, large areas of valuable habitats can be physically disturbed and/or contaminated by hazardous pollutants. It is, however, important to understand that the military impact on such areas may not be wholly detrimental to the environment: their closure to the public can result in environmental conservation of large portions of habitat. Many former military sites have been converted for civil usage; others are still actively operated for military purposes. In both cases, a major task for environmental policy- and decision-makers is to determine scientifically justified reuse and/or operation scenarios that would not result in deterioration of site habitats and that would in fact be favorable to further development of biodiversity within the areas’ existing ecosystems. Ecological risk assessment is suggested as the key process to use to facilitate assessment of the ecological value of contaminated and/or disturbed military sites and in development of a reuse decision protocol. This talk will present a number of risk and habitat assessment techniques that we are currently developing and integrating into a computerized risk-based framework. The application of risk-based protocols to the implementation of both national and international strategies regarding conservation of biodiversity at affected military sites will also be discussed.
This work is partially funded by the United Nations Global Environment Facility and NATO Science for Peace Programme.
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