Bern Convention Wind Farms and Birds Report
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Strasbourg, 26 August 2013 T-PVS/Inf (2013) 15 [Inf15e_2013.doc] CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF EUROPEAN WILDLIFE AND NATURAL HABITATS Bern Convention Bureau Meeting Strasbourg (17 September 2013) __________ WIND FARMS AND BIRDS: AN UPDATED ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF WIND FARMS ON BIRDS, AND BEST PRACTICE GUIDANCE ON INTEGRATED PLANNING AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT - Final - Document prepared by Report prepared by BirdLife International on behalf of the Bern Convention Gove, B., Langston, RHW., McCluskie, A., Pullan, JD. & Scrase, I. RSPB/BirdLife in the UK This document will not be distributed at the meeting. Please bring this copy. Ce document ne sera plus distribué en réunion. Prière de vous munir de cet exemplaire. T-PVS/Inf (2013) 15 - 2 - CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................... 4 RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................................................................................. 8 GLOSSARY & ACRONYMS ...................................................................................................................... 10 GLOSSARY OF SPECIES ........................................................................................................................... 11 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 12 PART 1 : REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ............................................................................................... 13 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 13 1.2 Displacement ...................................................................................................................................... 14 1.2.1 Wintering Waterfowl and Waders ............................................................................................ 15 1.2.2 Breeding Waders ...................................................................................................................... 15 1.2.3 Passerines .................................................................................................................................. 16 1.2.4 Raptors ...................................................................................................................................... 16 1.2.5 Other species ............................................................................................................................. 17 1.2.6 Micro-turbines .......................................................................................................................... 17 1.2.7 Offshore .................................................................................................................................... 17 1.3 Collision Risk ..................................................................................................................................... 18 1.3.1 Evidence of Collisions .............................................................................................................. 20 1.3.2 Micro-turbines .......................................................................................................................... 21 1.3.3 Offshore .................................................................................................................................... 21 1.3.4 Migration .................................................................................................................................. 23 1.4 Habitat Loss or Damage .................................................................................................................... 23 1.4.1 Onshore ..................................................................................................................................... 24 1.4.2 Offshore .................................................................................................................................... 24 1.5 Barrier Effects .................................................................................................................................... 24 1.5.1 Onshore ..................................................................................................................................... 25 1.5.2 Offshore .................................................................................................................................... 25 1.6 Indirect Impacts ................................................................................................................................. 25 1.6.1 Onshore ..................................................................................................................................... 26 1.6.2 Offshore .................................................................................................................................... 26 1.7 Miscellany .......................................................................................................................................... 26 1.7.1 Other project related impacts .................................................................................................... 26 1.7.2 Sensitivity Indices ..................................................................................................................... 26 1.7.3 Missed Opportunities and Knowledge Gaps............................................................................. 27 PART 2: INTEGRATED PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT ......................................................................... 28 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 28 2.2 Site Selection ...................................................................................................................................... 28 2.2.1 The Strategic Approach ............................................................................................................ 28 2.2.2 Sensitivity Mapping .................................................................................................................. 34 2.2.3 Site Selection Protocols ............................................................................................................ 37 - 3 - T-PVS/Inf (2013) 15 2.3 Environmental Impact Assessment ..................................................................................................... 39 2.3.1 Principles of Environmental Impact Assessment ..................................................................... 39 2.3.2 Risk Assessment and Allocation of Risk: Determining Significance ....................................... 43 2.3.3 Cumulative Impact Assessment ................................................................................................ 44 2.3.4 Mitigation Measures and Enhancement .................................................................................... 46 2.3.5 Assessment and Monitoring...................................................................................................... 50 2.3.6 Best Practice Study and Analysis Protocols ............................................................................. 51 2.4 Integrated Planning Processes .......................................................................................................... 62 2.4.1 The Benefits of Early and Pro-active Consultation and Joint Working .................................... 62 2.4.2 Decision-Making and Uncertainty ............................................................................................ 65 2.4.3 Decision-Making on Projects within the EU Affecting Natura 2000 sites ............................... 66 2.4.4 Adaptive Management Frameworks ......................................................................................... 67 2.4.5 Dissemination of Results .......................................................................................................... 67 Recommendations.................................................................................................................................. 68 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................ 69 References ................................................................................................................................................ 69 Useful websites, webpages and online reports ................................................................................ 83 Appendices .............................................................................................................................................. 86 Appendix 1 – Key Legislation and Conventions Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) ............................. 86 AEWA ................................................................................................................................................ 86 Bern Convention ................................................................................................................................ 88 Ramsar Convention ............................................................................................................................ 88 OSPAR ..............................................................................................................................................