Ecological considerations concerning interactions between electric lines and birds. Endesa experience

Transcription

1 Ecological considerations concerning interactions between electric lines and birds. Antoni Palau Biodiversity, Environmental R&D and Water Resources Department of Environment and Climate Change Spain & Portugal. Endesa Life Project Save the Flyers Santa Fiora, 5-7/11/2014

2 Enel Group Biodiversity Conservation Plan in Iberia Working scheme PROPOSALS SUBMITTING BODIES: Research centers/ Universities Technical /Economic proposal ENDESA BIODIVERSITY AREA First assessment Valued elements (see next slide) Public authorities End of process Rejection Internal areas (corporative or business lines) Biodiversity conservation or environmental organizations Specific application form Filled up application form Last assessment External advisors(?) Four in Spain & Portugal, two of them are birdlife specialists Other bodies Modified application form If the proposal does not cover all the information needed for its assessment Approval Start of actions Communication Follow-up reports Monitoring and feedback Final report If the results does not cover the objectives Check for compliance of objectives Technical and Scientific production Reviewing results 2

3 Enel Group Biodiversity Conservation Plan in Iberia Valued elements for the first assessment of proposals The action should be voluntary or go beyond legal requirements. It must fit in one of the 20 typologies described by the BCP classification matrix (see next slide). It has to mean a clear and verifiable increase in terms of knowledge, preservation, recuperation or promotion of biodiversity (the degree of certainty about this requirement is quantitatively assessed using the abovementioned internal fixed procedure). It has to count with the approval (when needed) of all the involved lines of business. 3

4 Enel Group Biodiversity Conservation Plan in Iberia Classification Matrix 4

5 Enel Group Biodiversity Conservation Plan in Iberia Evolution since 2011 Every project included in the Endesa Biodiversity Conservation Plan can be classified into one of the 20 abovementioned typologies. 5

6 Enel Group Biodiversity Conservation Plan in Iberia Evolution since 2011 % of Biodiversity Projects regarding Application Field (Spain & Portugal) A: Uses and infrastructure management; B: Habitats management; C: Autochthonous species; D: Invasive species Uses and infrastructure management (A) has been the dominant application field, since this is the stage where we can avoid or decrease our negative impacts on biodiversity before they happen, and sometimes turn them into positive impacts. Projects regarding habitat and autochthonous species management (B & C) have noticeably increased their share during the last four years. 6

7 Enel Group Biodiversity Conservation Plan in Iberia Evolution since 2011 % of Biodiversity Projects regarding Action Field (Spain & Portugal) 1: Own facilities; 2: Area of influence; 3: Research projects; 4: Socio-environmental projects; 5: Emblematic projects Projects carried out in our own facilities and their immediate surroundings (1), as well as research projects (3), have been the most common action fields during years

8 Enel Group Biodiversity Conservation Plan in Iberia Birdlife/power lines related projects since 2011 Both the number of birdlife/power lines related projects and their share have increased since In fact, the number of active projects has doubled, with a major increase in The contribution percentage has slightly dropped since 2013 due to a rising number of projects focused in other fields 8

9 Enel Group Biodiversity Conservation Plan Birdlife/power lines related projects since 2011 Year (F= final year) Name Type LIFE+ Project: Conservation and management of Special Protection A1 (F) Areas for steppe birds in Andalusia Joint research project (CSIC-Junta de Andalucía-Endesa) for the A3 (F) protection of avifauna Collaboration agreement with the Government of Aragon for the development of projects about reduction of collision and electrocution A1 risks to avifauna Avilinia project: coordination of environmental actions with the Balearic A1 Government regarding electric power distribution and avifauna protection Supporting measures for the reintroduction of peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), and Bonelli s eagle (Aquila fasciata) at Foix Power Plant B1 (F) (Cubelles, Barcelona) Effectiveness assessment of signing and high mortality spot monitoring A3 (F) in mid-voltage power lines Torres de Luz, Torres de Biodiversidad ( Towers of Light, Towers of B3 (F) Biodiversity ) project Satellite tracking of a Bonelli s eagle (Aquila fasciata) C3 Collaboration agreement on the adaptation of the electricity distribution A1 (F) network in the Cordillera Litoral Natural Park protected area (Barcelona) 9

10 Enel Group Biodiversity Conservation Plan Birdlife/power lines related projects since 2011 Name Interactions between power lines and Bonelli s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) in Catalonia (monograph in press) Corrective measures on black vulture (Aegypius monachus) populations and other scavenger species of avifauna in areas of the Pyrenees affected by the presence of distribution networks owned by Endesa Analysis of interferences between land use and mobility of the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) and electric power distribution networks Environmental measures for the reintroduction of the Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) in the surroundings of low and medium voltage lines in Lleida Role of hydroelectric reservoirs as wetlands and supporters of avifauna Preparation of material for environmental training focused on interactions between power lines and biodiversity Wintering bird census at the new As Pontes Lake Study on the interactions between cleared up corridors beneath power lines and the surrounding ecosystems Relevance of hydropower plants and other facilities operated by Endesa for endangered Chiroptera Type B3 C2 A2 C3 A1 A4 A1 B3 A1 Year (F= final year) (F) (F) (F) (F) 10

11 Enel Group Biodiversity Conservation Plan in Iberia Birdlife/power lines related projects since 2011 (The project on the role of hydroelectric reservoirs as supporters of avifauna, as well as the environmental training about biodiversity, are represented by a shaded area due to their multiple locations). 11

12 Enel Group Biodiversity Conservation Plan in Iberia Birdlife/power lines related projects being considered for the near future Action/project Environmental measures for the reintroduction of the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) as a breeding species at the new As Pontes Lake (A Coruña, NW Spain). Collaboration agreement for the reintroduction of the Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) in the province of Cádiz (Southern Spain). Determination of the use of power lines made by breeding specimens of Canarian Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus majorensis) (Canary Islands). Participation in the VIII European Crane Conference (Gallocanta- Zaragoza, NE Spain). 12

13 Distribution Network in Iberia In Spain, Endesa distributes electricity in 27 provinces across 10 regions (autonomous communities): Catalonia, Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Aragon, Extremadura, Castile-Leon, Galicia, Navarre, and Valencia, covering an area of 192,790 km 2 with a total population of nearly 22 million. In 2013, the number of distribution customers was 11.9 million, with contracted capacity of 80.8 GW. Endesa s network supplied 112,031 GWh of power in 2013, covering 43% of total demand in Spain. 13

14 Distribution Network in Iberia The electricity distribution network of Endesa consists of: - High-voltage lines - Substations - Medium-voltage lines - Transformer centres - Low-voltage lines - Equipment for distributed energy measurement. In 2013, Endesa had 323,633 kilometres of distribution grid lines in Spain. Of these, around 40% are underground lines. 14

15 General interactions between birdlife and power lines (-) Electrification (+) Nesting (-) Collision (+) Perching Ecological role of cleared corridors under power lines? (-) Discontinuity (barrier) effect (+) Increase in biotopes diversity 15

16 Most relevant projects ( ) Conservation and management of Special Protection Areas for steppe birds in Andalusia BCP typology: A1 Location: Provinces of Córdoba, Sevilla & Málaga (Andalusia, S. Spain) Status: Completed ( ) Organization involved: Junta de Andalucía (Regional Government) Targeted ecosystems: SPAs for steppe birds. Targeted species: Great bustard (Otis tarda), Little bustard (Tetrax tetrax), Lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), European roller (Coracias garrulus). Main objective: Improvement of conservation conditions of steppe bird protected species in the SPAs Alto Guadiato (ES ), Campiñas de Sevilla (ES ), Laguna de Fuente de Piedra (ES ) and Lagunas de Campillos (ES ). Key actions: Specific actions related to Endesa infrastructures include the installation of nest boxes in transmission towers and the improvement of obsolete transformers to promote the breeding and nesting of the Lesser Kestrel and the European Roller. Other actions included management of physical habitat of the steppe birds by experimental farming techniques, signaling of fences, etc. Results: Scientific final conclusions are currently being drawn. Endesa s actions were carried out successfully. SPA Lagunas de Campillos 16

17 Most relevant projects ( ) Interactions between power lines and Bonelli s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) in Catalonia BCP typology: B3 Location: Catalonia (NE Spain) Status: Completed ( ) Organization involved: University of Barcelona Targeted species: Aquila fasciata Main objective: determination of most used areas by the eagle within the Barcelona province, and definition of critical power lines within these areas. Evaluation of the effect of the corrections in power lines on breeding productivity and survival. Key actions: combination of survey data, radio tracking and local regulations about priority of corrective measures on power lines to obtain a list of suggested sections of power lines to correct. Evaluation of the effects of corrective measures, once taken. Results: It was concluded that the corrections affected the survival rate of the species. Before the corrections were made, the quasi-extinction probability of Bonelli s Eagle Catalan populations was 100% within 50 years. With the population rates observed after correction of power lines, the quasi-extinction risk was reduced to no significant values. A specimen of Bonelli s eagle (Aquila fasciata) in flight 17

18 Most relevant projects ( ) Interactions between power lines and Bonelli s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) in Catalonia Former Eagle s territory Current Eagle s territory Province of Barcelona Land use intensity map intersected with power lines with different priority levels, the red ones being the most prioritary. Cumulative risk of quasi-extinction of the Bonelli s Eagle in Catalonia (a) before and (b) after the application of corrective measures on the distribution network. 18

19 Most relevant projects ( ) Satellite tracking of a Bonelli s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) BCP typology: C3 Location: Province of Lleida (Catalonia, NE Spain) Status: Current (since 2012) Organization involved: ICRA (Catalan Institute for the Birds of Prey) Targeted species: Bonnelli s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) Main objective: the project aims to collect information about the areas that the species occupy and the use they make of them during their dispersion phase, since there is currently very little information to this regard. Only methods that provide continuous information on the location of the animal, as radio tracking, are suitable to study their dispersion phase. Key actions: recovery of a wounded animal and attachment of a GPS transmitter to its back. Release of the eagle and processing of GPS tracking data. Results: 3,508 locations were recorded only during the first year. This allowed the determination of the vital space and the area of central activity of the animal. June 2014 marked three years since the release of the young Bonelli s eagle, which is considered a success given the high pre-adult mortality of this species in Spain. The Bonelli s eagle, nicknamed Messi by its caregivers, in its first flight after its release in

20 Most relevant projects ( ) Satellite tracking of a Bonelli s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) Locations registered during the first year of tracking. Messi s vital space map. 20

21 Most relevant projects ( ) Analysis of interferences between land use and mobility of large birds of prey (Gypaetus barbatus) and electric power distribution networks BCP typology: A2 Location: Eastern Andalusia (SE Spain) Status: Current (since 2013) Organization involved: Gypaetus Foundation Targeted species: Gypaetus barbatus Main objective: the assessment of the affection that the presence of power lines located in the potential area of distribution of the bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) has on the development of this species. Key actions: Satellite tracking of birds by transmitters that send daily data about the position and activity of birds. Integration of these data into a GIS. Visits to points of the distribution network with greater danger potential, to detect infrastructures whose design, situation or state could be dangerous for the bearded vulture. Results: a list of suggested corrective measures for the electric power distribution network was prepared using available information about risky spots and the species activity gathered from satellite tracking. Bearded vulture equipped with a GPS transmitter. 21

22 Most relevant projects ( ) Analysis of interferences between land use and mobility of large birds of prey (Gypaetus barbatus) and electric power distribution networks Locations registered during the study. Flight frequency map obtained by data processing. 22

23 Most relevant projects ( ) Corrective measures on black vulture (Aegypius monachus) populations and other scavenger species of avifauna in areas of the Pyrenees affected by the presence of distribution networks BCP typology: C2 Location: Boumort Mountains and Alinyà Mountains (Lleida, NE Spain) Status: Current (since 2012) Organization involved: Trenca Association Targeted species: Aegypius monachus, Neophron percnopterus, Gypaetus barbatus, Gyps fulvus, Corvus corax Milvus migrans, Milvus milvus. Main objective: to provide support to the project of reintroduction of the Black Vulture in the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees. Population recovery of the Black Vulture as a breeding species and reinforcement of the connection between French and Iberian populations. Key actions: construction and monitoring of three supplementary feeding points (SFPs), which reinforce the availability of food for the scavengers in the Pyrenees. The extra feeding supplied are meat byproducts and small preys provided by nearby farms. Results: Birds are making an extensive use of the SFPs. At one of the SFPs, the presence of at least 15 individuals of Black Vulture has been detected, and it has also been present to a lesser extent in other SFPs. The rest of species, as well other medium-sized scavengers also, use the SFPs. Supplying extra feeding for scavenger bird species at the SFP located at Isona (Lleida) 23

24 Most relevant projects ( ) Role of hydroelectric reservoirs of Endesa as supporters of birdlife BCP typology: A3 Location: Spain Status: Current ( ) Organization involved: - Vittorio Pedrocchi (external consultant) Targeted species: Bird species that benefit from the presence of hydroelectric water reservoirs operated by Endesa Main objective: Assessment of the importance of Endesa s water reservoirs for the diversity of bird species. Proposal of management measures to improve the reservoirs birdlife hosting capacity. Key actions: Census of aquatic bird species during the breeding season in each of the 81 water reservoirs managed by Endesa in Spain. Additional wintering season census for some of the water bodies. Statistic study of the results and comparison with characteristics of the reservoirs to draw conclusions about beneficial factors for species richness, diversity and density. Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus) at the Orellana reservoir (Extremadura, Western Spain) Results: Data collected during the first year of monitoring actions show a preliminary result of 54 aquatic bird species and a total of 6,654 individuals found during the summer season. It is estimated that these figures could rise up to more than 20,000 individuals and most of the 102 aquatic species in Spain once the data analysis is finished.the final report will also include a list of proposed operational measures. 24

25 Most relevant projects ( ) Study on the interactions between cleared up corridors beneath power lines and the surrounding ecosystems BCP typology: B3 Location: Lleida (Catalonia, NE Spain) and Zamora (Castilla y León, NW Spain) Status: Current (since 2014) Organization involved: ICA,SL and IEC (Institut d Estudis Catalans) Targeted ecosystems: meadows generated as a result of mandatory pruning works along power lines. Main objective: assessment of the ecological role of cleared up corridors beneath power lines. Key actions: selection of suitable sites using GIS, cartography and bibliography sources. Description of designated sites. Installation of auto-shooting cameras to assess the use of the meadow ecosystem made by large mammals. Results: Preliminary results show high plant biodiversity in the open meadows, as well as clearly different biophysical conditions between them and the surrounding forests. An extensive use of the meadow by herbivores such as roe deers (Capreolus capreolus), rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) or wild boars (Sus scrofa), and predators like foxes (Vulpes vulpes) was registered. Final conclusions are expected for next december. One of the studied sites and two pictures taken automatically, featuring roe deers. 25

26 Most relevant projects ( ) Study on the interactions between cleared up corridors beneath power lines and the surrounding ecosystems INTERIOR EDGE CORRIDOR Monitored areas organization. 26

27 Most relevant projects ( ) Relevance of hydropower plants and other facilities operated by Endesa for endangered Chiroptera BCP typology: A1 Location: River Ter, Fluvià and Noguera-Pallaresa basins (Catalonia, NE Spain) Status: Current (since 2013) Organization involved: CTFC (Centre Tecnològic Forestal de Catalunya) Targeted species: endangered and vulnerable iberian Chiroptera species. Main objective: to improve the knowledge about cavedwelling bats and their conservation, their ecological requirements and their relationship with the operation of the Hydropower Plants. Key actions: inspection of shelters, population census, capture campaigns, characterization and release of individuals, data processing, reporting and advice about the implementation of conservation measures in the studied Power Plants. Results: A total of 994 bats from 19 different bat species were caught. Six of these species are threatened: one is classified as Endangered (Myotis capaccinii) and five are classified as Vulnerable in the threatened species list of Spain (Decret 139/2011). A lateral window of a hydroelectric canal, at Ribera de Cardós, one of the studied A lesser sites horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) at one of the studied A grey long-eared bat (Plecotus austriacus) at one of the studied sites. sites. 27

28 Most relevant projects ( ) Relevance of hydropower plants and other facilities operated by Endesa for endangered Chiroptera Detailed list of catches carried out during the study 28

29 Internal environmental training on biodiversity The Environmental Training on Biodiversity for staff working on Energy Distribution is being currently prepared 29

30 Interactions between birdlife and power lines Publications Our interest in the interactions between power lines and birdlife comes from long time ago 30

31 Publications 31

32 Grazie per l attenzione (Thank you) Lessons learned: We have to keep improving our distribution facilities. Certainly, much remains to be done, but we do not stand. We also must look at around the electric lines. Studies on habitat and population dynamics of the target species, will be increasingly important in decision-making. The GPS tracking techniques can contribute much to the study of the use and habitat preferences.