How far are birds, bats, and terrestrial mammals displaced from onshore wind energy improvement? A scientific assessment

Highlights

• 63 %, 72 %, and 67 % of chicken, bat, and mammal circumstances respectively reported displacement.
• Cranes, owls and semi-domestic reindeer had been displaced on common as much as 5 km.
• Bats had been displaced on common as much as 1 km in 21 out of 29 circumstances.
• Findings of no displacement resulted from methodology, species, and surroundings.
• Info on displacement helps to mitigate the results of wind energy on wildlife.

Summary

Wind energy is a quickly rising supply of power worldwide. It’s essential for local weather change mitigation, nevertheless it additionally accelerates the degradation of biodiversity by way of habitat loss and the displacement of wildlife. To grasp the extent of displacement and causes for observations the place no displacement is reported, we carried out a scientific assessment of birds, bats, and terrestrial mammals. Eighty-four peer-reviewed research of onshore wind energy yielded 160 distinct displacement distances, termed circumstances. For birds, bats, and mammals, 63 %, 72 %, and 67 % of circumstances respectively reported displacement. Cranes (3/3 circumstances), owls (2/2), and semi-domestic reindeer (6/6) confirmed constant displacement on common as much as 5 km. Gallinaceus birds confirmed displacement on common as much as 5 km, however in 7/18 circumstances reported to point out “no displacement”. Bats had been displaced on common as much as 1 km in 21/29 circumstances. Waterfowl (6/7 circumstances), raptors (24/30), passerines (16/32) and waders (8/19) had been displaced on common as much as 500 m. Observations of no displacement had been urged to end result from methodological deficiencies, species-specific traits, and habitat situations favorable for sure species after wind energy improvement. Displacement-induced inhabitants decline may very well be mitigated by situating wind energy in low-quality habitats, minimizing the small-scale habitat loss and collisions, and creating high-quality habitats to compensate for habitat loss. This assessment supplies data on distance thresholds that may be employed within the design of future wind power initiatives. Nonetheless, most research assessed the results of turbine towers of <100 m excessive, whereas significantly bigger generators are being constructed at the moment.

Anne Tolvanen, Henri Routavaara, Mika Jokikokko, Parvez Rana
Pure Assets Institute Finland, Oulu

Organic Conservation Quantity 288, December 2023, 110382
doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2023.110382

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