Seasonal Report
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Ordering Party: MEPSO JSC Location: SS BITOLA 2-MACEDONIAN/ALBANIAN BORDER AND SS OHRID SEASONAL REPORT Subject: ASSESSMENT STUDY FOR VULNERABLE TAXONOMIC GROUPS OF FAUNA (BIRDS AND BATS) ALONG THE 400 KV OVERHEAD TRANSMISSION LINE: SS BITOLA 2 – MACEDONIAN/ALBANIAN BORDER AND SS OHRID Technical number: 0903-458/4 Date: November, 2017 Drezdenska no.52, 1000 Skopje Republic of Macedonia tel: +389 2 3063 040 / +389 2 3066 816 fax: 02 3066 828 web: www.gim.com.mk e-mail: [email protected] Assessment Study for Vulnerable Taxonomic Groups of Fauna (Birds and Bats) along the 400 kV Overhead Transmission Line: SS Bitola 2 – Macedonian/Albanian border and SS Ohrid Summer Season Report (2016) Skopje, 2016 Assessment Study for Vulnerable Taxonomic Groups of Fauna (Birds and Bats) along the 400 kV Overhead Transmission Line: SS Bitola 2 – Macedonian/Albanian border and SS Ohrid Table of Contents 1. GENERAL INFORMATION....................................................................................................................... 5 1.1. Background ....................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2. Study Objectives ............................................................................................................................... 6 1.3. Setting .............................................................................................................................................. 7 2. ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION OF BIRDS AND BATS .......................................................................... 9 2.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 9 2.2. Methodology ....................................................................................................................................... 10 2.2.1. Rationale on bats ............................................................................................................................... 10 2.2.2. Identification of Birds and Bats .......................................................................................................... 12 2.2.3. Evaluation of Birds and Bats .............................................................................................................. 12 2.2.3.1. Legal Protection of Birds and Bats .................................................................................................. 13 2.2.3.2. Conservation Status of Birds and Bats ............................................................................................ 14 2.3. Assessment and Evaluation of Birds (Summer Season Report) ........................................................... 15 2.3.1. Results ................................................................................................................................................ 15 2.3.2. Discussion and Conclusions ............................................................................................................... 18 2.4. Assessment and Evaluation of Bats (Summer Season Report) ............................................................ 23 2.4.1. Results ................................................................................................................................................ 23 2.4.1.1. Assessment of bats recorded along line transects and point counts using ultrasound detector ... 24 2.4.1.2. Assessment of bats recorded by visual counts of roosting bats at hibernation/maternity colonies and summer roosts ............................................................................................................................................... 45 2.4.1.3. Evaluation of Bats ........................................................................................................................... 51 2.4.2. Discussion and Conclusions ............................................................................................................... 52 3. REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................ 54 4. ANNEXES ............................................................................................................................................. 56 Civil Engineering Institute “Macedonia” J.S.C Skopje 2 Assessment Study for Vulnerable Taxonomic Groups of Fauna (Birds and Bats) along the 400 kV Overhead Transmission Line: SS Bitola 2 – Macedonian/Albanian border and SS Ohrid Abreviations: MOePP- Ministry for Environment and Spatial Planning ЕU – Europian Union CITES - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora АEWA – African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement SPA – Special Protection Area IPA -Important Bird area SAC – Special Area for Conservation MES-Macedonian Ecological Society EBRD- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development PR - Performance Requirement ESP- Environmental and Social Policy ESAP- Environmental and Social Action Plan ESIA- Environmental and Social Impact Assessment MEPSO- The Joint Stock Company for Electricity Transmission and Power System Control CEIM- Civil Engineering Institute Macedonia Project Team: - Svetozar Petkovski, Team Leader - Emilija Stojkoska - Andon Bojadzi - Tome Lisichanets - Emanuel Lisichanets CEIM Project Manager: - Martina Blinkova BSc in Ecology (EIA and SEA expert) CEIM Colaboratiors: - MSc Igor Ristovski- BSc Environmental engineer - MSc Gabriela Dudanova-Lazarevska BSc in tehnology - MSc Tanja Dimitrova-Filkoska BSc Chemical engineer - Ivan Macanovski -BSc mashine engineer - Energy and Environment - Vesna Miloshevska BSc man. of Ecological recourses Civil Engineering Institute “Macedonia” J.S.C Skopje 3 Assessment Study for Vulnerable Taxonomic Groups of Fauna (Birds and Bats) along the 400 kV Overhead Transmission Line: SS Bitola 2 – Macedonian/Albanian border and SS Ohrid Cover Page Photos: Bitola 2 Generating Step-Up Transformer (back photo); Nesting birds with young: White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) in the village of Kriveni (Resen Municipality); Mixed colony of Greater Mouse- eared Bat (Myotis myotis) and Schreibers’ Bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) in the Jaorec Cave, near the village of Velmej (Debarca Municipality). Ref. Civil Engineering Institute Macedonia (CEIM), Skopje, Macedonia Contract 0902-458/1 with MEPSO Skopje, Macedonia Contract No. 02-1104/2 . Project “Construction of Interconnection 400 kV Transmission Line, SS Bitola 2 – Macedonian/Albanian border and SS Ohrid'' Civil Engineering Institute “Macedonia” J.S.C Skopje 4 Assessment Study for Vulnerable Taxonomic Groups of Fauna (Birds and Bats) along the 400 kV Overhead Transmission Line: SS Bitola 2 – Macedonian/Albanian border and SS Ohrid 1. GENERAL INFORMATION 1.1 Background The Joint Stock Company for Electricity Transmission and Power System Control (MEPSO) in state ownership is currently in a pre-construction phase of the project “ 400kV Transmission Line, SS Bitola 2 – Macedonian/Albanian border and SS Ohrid” and the overall plan for improvement of the national electricity transmission infrastructure in the western part of Macedonia outlined in the Energy Development Strategy of the Republic of Macedonia until 2030. The Project will enable AD MEPSO to construct the Macedonian portion of the planned 400 kV cross- border electricity interconnection between Macedonia and Albania, the first interconnection between the two countries, and the introduction of grid efficiency improvements to the MEPSO's infrastructure. This project is a part of an initiative to establish a major East - West electricity transmission corridor between Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania and potentially Italy (via a planned submarine cable). This section (Bitola to Macedonia - Albanian border, with substation at Ohrid) is part of the Macedonia / Albania section of that corridor. The project has been identified as a priority for the creation of the regional electricity market in South East Europe, and will contribute to the stability and security of the electricity system of the Balkans, not only for the two countries directly concerned, but also for the electricity systems of the region by closing a 400 kV ring between Albania, Greece, and Macedonia. MEPSO has prepared an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) study to fulfill the requirements of the national legislation, the related EU Directives, especially: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive (2014/52/EU); Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora; Directive 2009/147/EEC of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe on the Conservation of Wild Birds; and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s Environmental and Social Policy (EBRD ESP). The project is considered as “Category A” Project in accordance with the EBRD’s Environmental and Social Policy (ESP) of 2008, and its successor EBRD ESP of 2014. The EBRD ESP 2014 Performance Requirements will apply to projects that are initiated after November 07, 2014. The EBRD’s requirements are therefore that all elements of the project will meet national environmental, social, health and safety laws and regulations, and be carried out in compliance with relevant EU environmental and social standards, as well as the EBRD’s Environmental and Social Policy (ESP) and Performance Requirements (PRs) of 2008 and 2014. In this context, MEPSO