ECOLOGY - MITIGATION FOR BIRDS MITIGATION FOR BIRDS
It is widely acknowledged that wind farm development has the potential to result in three key risks to bird populations, which include:
1 Displacement through indirect loss of habitat such as birds travelling further afield to avoid wind farms/change in their normal routes to feeding or roosting grounds
2 Death through collision or interaction with turbine blades
3 Direct habitat loss through construction of wind farm infrastructure
OTHER RISKS
During construction, a range of other risks are also possible. These are typically related to disturbance from machinery and contractor staff and can have significant impacts on a bird population’s viability.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Thorough environmental assessment is essential in ensuring that ecological impacts are fully identified prior to obtaining consent for any project and in turn vital that potential impacts are mitigated.
RESTORATION THREE KEY RISKS
Technical guidelines and advice for the mitigation of birds in relation to onshore wind farms have been developed and are readily available. Natural England’s ‘Assessing the effects of onshore wind farms on birds (TIN069)’ identifies when and where detailed assessments of potential impacts on birds resulting from wind farm developments are likely to be required.
This guidance, in consultation with a range of stakeholders and interested parties, explores particular issues such as the utility and limitations of remote technologies and collision risk models.
BEST PRACTICE SURVEY GUIDELINES Royal HaskoningDHV, working on behalf of one of their renewable energy clients, has implemented the principles of best practice survey guidelines to inform the ecological impact assessment, in turn providing a well informed and robust methodology, aiding the planning inspectorate’s decision making process for the development.
Potential habitat loss affecting nesting and foraging birds was identified during the 25 month construction programme, however it was also identified that the wider area provided suitable alternative habitat to allow population viability to be maintained.
It was also identified that there would be a temporary loss of several hundred metres of hedgerow; an important habitat for nesting birds. However, hedgerow replanting will occur following construction, along with the inclusion of enhanced hedgerows which support greater biodiversity, in turn benefiting nesting birds and the surrounding ecosystem.
MINIMAL IMPACT AIMS In Royal HaskoningDHV’s experience and during project development, wind farms should be (where possible) located away from identified bird migration routes and key feeding, breeding and roosting areas of those bird species known or suspected to be at risk.
This measure is a simple was of ensuring that the development will have minimal impact on bird populations. However, this is not always possible and further advice, assessment and development of mitigation can be required.
SUMMARY
Therefore it is imperative that surveys and subsequent assessments in respect of birds are undertaken in accordance with best practice survey guidelines. This ensures transparent, well informed and robust assessments that will influence decision making for these developments.
Royal HaskoningDHV Click to view more info
www.windenergynetwork.co.uk
23
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116