Impact factor and the range of ecological connectivity change due to development

Development projects disrupt natural processes and species movement, leading to habitat alteration and fragmentation, which ultimately results in biodiversity loss. These impacts can be mitigated by establishing land-use plans that minimize the effects on ecological connectivity (EC) and by implementing appropriate mitigation measures during the project planning phase. To address this, this study aimed to identify the factors influencing changes in EC due to development and to determine the extent of the impacts on EC. By comparing a development with an undeveloped scenario for completed projects, the study analyzed changes in EC. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the key factors affecting EC were the distance between patches and the area of ecological functional areas (EFAs). Furthermore, the change point model determined that the impact range on EC extended up to 1 km. Based on these findings, sustainable land use and biodiversity conservation can be achieved if land-use planning for development prioritizes minimizing the destruction of existing EFA patches and considers the placement of new EFAs within the project area in relation to nearby EFAs outside the project boundary.