Wind farm "whether map"

20-02-2008

Maps revealing some of England’s most sensitive sites to wind farm development have been published for the first time. They highlight important but unprotected land where thousands of birds could be at risk if wind turbines were built.

The maps are the first of several for northern England being produced by the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) and other organisations. They follow the publication in 2006 of a similar map for Scotland, produced to ease conflict over wind farm proposals.

“We have been appealing to the government for many years to publish maps like these primarily to help developers avoid sites that are important to wildlife”, said Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB’s Conservation Director. “Now we have taken the initiative. We strongly support wind farm development to help tackle climate change and these maps clearly show the wealth of land still available for turbines and other renewables.”

"these maps clearly show the wealth of land still available for turbines and other renewables" —Dr. Mark Avery, RSPB

Climate change is the most serious long-term threat to global biodiversity. BirdLife believes that wind farms can be beneficial in tackling climate change but must be located, designed and managed so that there are no significant adverse impacts on birds of acknowledged national and international importance, or their habitats, with special attention being given to wind farms along migration flyways.

The potentially detrimental effects of wind farms on birds are: collision leading to direct mortality; disturbance displacement from or exclusion from whole wind farm; barriers to movement disrupting links between feeding, wintering, breeding and moulting areas; change to or loss of habitat due to wind turbines and associated infrastructure.

Credits: RSPB, BirdLife