A GIS-Based Decision Support Framework for Sustainable Landscape Governance: Mitigating Wildlife Road Collision Risks in Fragmented Mediterranean Contexts

Accidents between vehicles and wildlife (WVCs) represent a complex management challenge, requiring integrated strategies that balance biodiversity conservation with public security and socio-ecological resilience. However, existing GIS hotspot analyses often identify spatial patterns without quantifying the structural landscape drivers that compel animal–road interactions. This study aims to identify “ecological traps” through an integrated landscape diagnostic framework combining Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) for statistical hotspot identification and landscape metrics (FRAGSTATS) for structural diagnosis, using the wild boar (Sus scrofa) as a focal species. An exploratory case analysis of high-collision locations was conducted, utilizing a high-quality dataset of 161 precisely georeferenced incidents recorded between 2015 and 2020 within the most critical municipalities of the Province of Avellino (Southern Italy). Results highlight two primary hotspots: the Guardia Lombardi-Conza corridor and the Avellino Nord-Pratola Serra axis. Quantitative analysis reveals that 39.1% of incidents occurred in non-irrigated arable lands and 19.9% in broad-leaved forests, with 52.8% of events situated within 500 m of river systems, which function as primary ecological movement corridors. Furthermore, fragmentation indices (Patch Density, Edge Density) were significantly higher in these focus areas, confirming that habitat isolation and the loss of core patches force animals to traverse infrastructure. These findings underscore the urgency of evidence-based spatial planning, offering a methodological framework with potential applicability for prioritizing mitigation actions, such as ecological corridors and intelligent signaling, to enhance the resilience of socio-ecological systems. This framework provides a scalable model for sustainable land management, ensuring that biodiversity conservation is integrated into long-term infrastructure governance.