A study of the impact made by roads on the environment. Many of the aspects of the complex problem of siting new roads and lessening their negative environmental effects are addressed by contributors who are specialists in their respective subject areas. Among the topics discussed are legal aspects, transport interests, planners’ and contractors’ viewpoints, plant and animal ecology, and innovative solutions to some of the problems that roads inevitably impose on the natural environment. The articles are based on papers presented at a meeting held by the Linnean Society of London. Each author has made revisions for this volume where necessary to reflect current circumstances.