trekdrukhendels

Trekdrukhendels are networks of migratory corridors that connect habitat patches across landscapes, enabling seasonal movement of wildlife and, in some contexts, human herding routes. They function as pathways for dispersal, resource tracking, and reproduction, shaping the spatial dynamics of populations over large scales.

The term combines elements from Dutch-rooted vocabulary, with trek meaning migration, druk referring to drive or pressure, and endels indicating endpoints or terminus points. It was coined in landscape ecology to describe how movement pressure concentrates along continuous linear features within human-modified and natural environments.

Trekdrukhendels consist of core habitat patches linked by linear features such as river corridors, hedgerows, woodland strips, and agro-forestry belts. Their width and permeability vary along their length, and they support varying levels of genetic exchange among populations. The networks are typically most functional when multiple pathways and stepping-stone habitats are maintained to accommodate different species and life stages.

Ecologically, large vertebrates may use broader segments of trekdrukhendels, while birds and bats exploit aerial pathways along edge and corridor systems. Human activities, including agriculture, forestry, and road networks, can either enhance connectivity through deliberate design or hinder it through fragmentation and barriers. Conservation efforts often prioritize maintaining or restoring vegetation along corridors, reducing barriers, and protecting key stepping-stone patches to preserve network integrity.

In planning and biodiversity assessments, trekdrukhendels inform landscape-scale strategies for climate adaptation, species persistence, and sustainable land use by emphasizing connectivity alongside local habitat quality.