Glossary of Key Terms

This glossary provides definitions for key terms used throughout the Biodiversity & Infrastructure Handbook, supporting consistent understanding across disciplines such as ecology, engineering, transport planning and policy.

Definitions are based on legal texts, reference documents and expert agreement, and cover essential concepts related to wildlife and traffic, habitat fragmentation, ecological connectivity, mitigation measures, monitoring, green infrastructure and nature-based solutions. The glossary helps practitioners interpret technical guidance and supports clear communication between stakeholders involved in infrastructure projects.

If you are new to transport ecology or working in a multi-disciplinary team, the glossary can serve as a quick reference before exploring detailed handbook chapters. Terms will continue to evolve as the handbook is updated through expert collaboration and user feedback.

Last update: October 2023 – How to cite

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There are currently 12 names in this directory beginning with the letter F.
FAIR data
Data which are Findable (metadata and data are expected to be asey to fin by a human or machine); Accessible (once the data are found, the user easily know how to access them); Interoperable (metadata is sufficiently detailed to render the data set understandable in order to be integrated with others); Reusable (metadata is rich enough to allow for multiple reutilisation of the data set for various purposes).
Fauna
Animal species.
Fauna passage
See 'Wildlife passage'.
Fauna underpass
See 'Wildlife underpass'.
Fauna-exit
See ‘Escape-device’.
Fencing
A structure made of wire or other materials supported with posts that is put along linear transport infrastructure to keep animals out and eventually guide them to crossing structures. It is also installed on areas of land as a boundary to keep animals in.
Filter effect
Referred to the effect caused by the infrastructure which inhibits the movement of certain species or individuals. The scale of the effect varies between species and may even vary between sexes or age categories.
Fish passage
Modified pipe or box culvert that allows a watercourse and/or drainage to flow underneath transport infrastructure and includes adaptations to provide particular conditions that enable fish to swim through. When possible, adaptations for use by wildlife may also include dry ledges or shelves to provide passage for other terrestrial species, and which are connected to adjacent habitats.
Flora
Plant or bacterial life.
Forestry road
(Narrow) road built mainly for forestry purposes which may or may not have public access.
Fragmentation
The breaking up of a habitat, ecosystem or landuse unit into smaller parcels.
Functional connectivity
A description or measure of how well genes, gametes, propagules or individuals move through land, freshwater and seascape. It is function of both the landscape structure and the behavioral response of organisms to this structure. Thus, functional connectivity is both specific to the species and the landscape where it occurs. See also 'Structural connectivity'.