Indicators should be directly related to the objectives of the mitigation project. If the primary purpose of the structures is to reduce mortality, the total number of wildlife-vehicle collisions along a given road section should be the parameter monitored, with species-specific frequencies also considered when relevant. If habitat connectivity is the main objective, measures of diversity and abundance at the sites of interest can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the mitigation system.
The need for mitigation measures itself is a central question to be evaluated. Wildlife crossing success should be estimated before and after road paving or duplication, while comparable road sections without protective measures should be included as controls. It is therefore essential that the selected monitoring approach be appropriate for the information the study is intended to obtain.
Translation note: This English version was preliminarily translated using ChatGPT and has not yet undergone human review.