SUMMARY
The main objectives of this study are:
I. To study the road effects on mortality, connectivity and viability of the vertebrate populations present in the Albufera NP; a protected area under high human pressure.
II. To propose effective mitigation measures in order to reduce the fauna road mortality and to improve the connectivity of the Albufera NP with the surrounding natural areas. In addition, to analyze the effects the application of these mitigation measures might have over the vertebrate populations in the study.
    The study is focused on two of the most important effects of the presence of roads on the fauna: the road mortality and the barrier effect. The study area is the Albufera Natural Park, a protected coastal wetland. Road-killed animals were registered by means of bicycle transects over the studied roads. The results showed the high impact of this source of mortality on all the fauna present in the area. Birds were one of the most affected groups, of which mallards showed an especially high mortality rate. Vehicle-mallard collisions are a consequence of the animals crossing the road from the Devesa forest habitat, where they nest, to the wetland area, where they find resources to complete their biologic cycle. The mallard road mortality is registered every year, with a high temporal (spring) and spatial (Devesa road stretch) concentration. 
    The genet, a medium size carnivorous mammal, is also affected by road mortality. Despite being considered extinct in the Albufera NP as recently as the late 1970s, the presence of genet road-kills indicate the presence of the species in the study area. Several studies, including radio-tracking, camera tramp and latrine studies, were carried out in order to determine the presence and characteristics of the genet population in the Park. The results indicate the presence of a small population in the area and show the great impact of road mortality on this species. In a parallel study, the genet data were used to determine the degree of connectivity of the forest area of the Park with the surrounding natural areas. The high human influenced matrix together with the presence of several highways reduces animal flow between the natural areas so that the isolated condition of the forest area is threatening the persistence of genets in the Park. 
    Some mitigation measures are needed in the Albufera NP in order to diminish the road impact on the fauna. Reducing traffic density and vehicle speed on roads are proposed as being two of the best alternatives to reduce the fauna road mortality. Habitat restoration of part of the territory located between the Devesa forest area and the surrounding natural areas, together with the installation of fauna passages on the main roads, would improve the connectivity of the Park.