Abstract
Concerns over climate change have led to renewable energy targets for EU member states, with the UK being allocated a target of 15 % of energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020. This will require a large increase in renewable energy production, with wind energy currently representing the fastest growing renewable energy source. Climate change poses the single greatest long-term threat to birds and other wildlife, and the RSPB recognises the essential role renewable energy, including wind, plays in addressing this problem. However, poorly sited wind farms can also have negative effects on birds, leading to potential conflict where proposals coincide with areas of activity for species of conservation concern.
To help minimise this conflict, the RSPB and Natural England have jointly produced a GIS map and written guidance to aid the planning process for onshore wind energy development in England. The map is based on distributional data for twelve sensitive bird species, plus statutory SPAs (Special Protection Areas), and sites containing nationally important populations of breeding waders and seabirds, or wintering waders or wildfowl. Ten of the 12 species included on the map are listed on Annex I of the EU Birds Directive, with two additional species of conservation concern included, due to concern about potential impacts on their rapidly declining or highly localised populations. All species included have known or suspected (based on information on the species’ behaviour or ecology) susceptibility to the effects of wind turbines on birds, either through collision mortality and/or disturbance displacement.