PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Overhead power lines present a danger to some birds due to the risk of collision and electrocution. In Portugal and Spain, they pose a major threat to several endangered bird species, including in Natura 2000 Special Protection Areas (SPAs). In Portugal, there are over 179,000 km of overhead low, medium and high voltage power lines distributed across the country. Of these, more than 9 000 km are in Natura 2000 sites, with over 2 700 km in the project’s target SPAs and adjacent areas. Bird mortality resulting from collision with and electrocution by power lines has been recorded for 107 species in Portugal and a nationwide report estimates deaths at 0.18 birds per pylon per year due to electrocution and 3.45 birds per km per year due to collisions. The 7 EU priority bird species targeted by the project are extremely vulnerable to this threat, with previous field surveys recording high mortality from collisions and electrocution.
OBJECTIVES
LIFE PowerLines4Birds aims to reduce the impact of power lines on 7 bird species that are highly vulnerable to electrocution and collision with lines. The project plans to substantially increase safe breeding and foraging areas by reducing the mortality risk from power lines in 23 cross-border SPAs (14 in Portugal and 9 in Spain). This should help provide better conditions for these bird species and improve populations in the Iberian Peninsula.
The specific objectives are to:
- Support the conservation of the 7 target bird species by significantly decreasing one of their biggest threats;
- Ensure safe breeding and foraging areas with fewer dangerous interactions with power lines;
- Promote a significant reduction in bird mortality caused by power lines in Natura 2000 SPAs and adjacent areas, through the wider implementation of best practices for existing power lines;
- Test new methods for improving the efficiency of bird mortality mitigation measures, to be applied on new power lines at national level;
- Increase the capacity to identify and predict power line mortality hotspots;
- Support capacity building within electricity corporations and governmental bodies and increase reporting of incidents by professionals;
- Enhance governance and grid sustainability to improve nature conservation and biodiversity protection; and
- Promote networking with other projects, thus combining conservation efforts tackling this and other threats to the target bird species.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- Reduction of bird mortality linked to power lines by 90% in Portugal, through retrofitting of almost 360 km of lines (14% of the network inside the project area) and 1 820 pylons:
- Insulation of about 980 pylons over 140 km;
- Anti-collision devices placed on more than 90 km of lines;
- 7 km of overhead lines transferred;
- 15 km of Assembled Bundle Cable (105 pylons) tested; and
- New cross-arms configuration (Eco-crossbar) implemented over 105 km (around 840 pylons);
- Efficiency tested of several new combined methods that reduce both electrocution and collisions;
- Safer breeding and foraging habitats for the target species, fostering territories that are safe from power line impacts (in at least 10 territories in Portugal with a total area of 150 000 hectares, representing around 25% of the project SPAs):
- More than 90% of Iberian imperial eagle nesting territories covered;
- 50% of cinereous vulture colonies and 20% of Egyptian vulture nesting/foraging areas protected against power line incidents, significantly reducing non-natural mortality;
- At least 50% of Montagu’s harrier nests in Castro Verde SPA (25 nests) protected from electrocution and/or collision; and
- 30% of great bustard core areas covered, also benefiting the little bustard, which occupies the same areas;
- European roller’s distribution area in Portugal enhanced through increased nest availability (50 nest boxes in 8 SPAs); and
- Governance promoted through bringing together relevant stakeholders to discuss and improve regulations and best practices, replicable to other companies and countries, and by upgrading their knowledge and capacity for improving grid sustainability and Natura 2000 site management.
