Mainstreaming migratory bird requirements into wind energy development

Maxim Vergeichik

UNDP Bulgaria

COP Meeting, September 2005, Bratislava

Mainstreaming per GEF, SP-2Spatial: internalizing into spatial planning for

an ecoregion, country, province

http://www.gefweb.org/Replenishment/Reple_Documents/R.4.Inf.6_Biodiversity_Strategy.pdf

Sectoral: improving productive behavior through demonstrations, policy adjustment, capacity building

Institutional: internalizing into entire government or a particular institution

Markets: creation of new markets, environmental payments, etc.

What is the problem/biological impact?

Loss of globally significant migratory birds through collisions with power generators;

Loss of habitat for globally significant migratory and wintering birds

Where is the problem?

Bulgarian Coast of the Black Sea - area of concentration of migratory and wintering birds

Threats

Wind energy farms placed wrong

Tourist infrastructure expansion destroys habitats

Sectoral mainstreaming blended with spatial. Blending is allowed!

Birds and wind energy: why?

Cape Kaliakra studies: 40% migrants fly below 150 m. Balchik: 23%, etc.

E.g. White Storks: 414,000 ind. – 40% of the European population fly along Bulgarian coast

Wind energy development to date

Greenpeace: Bulgaria has highest wind power potential in Eastern and Central Europe

11% of energy from renewables by 2010 – very liberal market expansion opportunities

3 projects approved (72 turnbins). 2005 - 30 permissions expected (1-80 turbines)

80 turbines can be erected in less than 12 months

Conflicts

How long can this last without proper reconciliation (mainstreaming efforts)?

Cape Kaliakra wind farm proposal: complete overlap with important bird areas

Action : court-cases filed by NGOs, appeals to CMS convention

Barriers

Wind development incentives inconsistent with biodiversity

requirements

Precautions not communicated to wind developers

Information is not tailored well for decision makers

Revise and improve EIA principles and scorecards

Institutional / voluntary agreements between energy producers and NGOs

Guidebook and training for EIA evaluators on turbine scoping

assessment, etc.

Information production and sharing system

Round the clock Help Desk for guidance on wind farm placement,

risk evaluation and mitigation measures

Barrier removal – sectoral aspects

Barriers

Municipalities do not care about birds in spatial planning

Barrier removal – spatial aspects

Regional inspectorates have weak enforcement capacity capacity

Mechanisms for public participation in land use decision making nascent

Edit spatial plans – make use of most advanced municipalities

Capacity building

NGO networking and public involvement

Peer ReviewWaders, water birds, soaring birds,

even monk seal mentioned – what are you really after?

Project TipsFocus your proposal species or

habitat-wise

“Increasingly serious threat” masks no threat

Get your problem statement right right: Is your project remedial or

precautionary?

Don’t jump to concluding wind energy and tourism are key threats.

There may be others

Add as much evidence as possible

To qualify for BD-2 need to focus on few threats with common approaches

and linked biological impact

It seems you want to change people’s behavior. It is hardly possible.

True in most cases. Find and Use existent change drivers

Thank you