Thursday, 29 September 2016
11:30 - 13:00 Environmental case studies: global gain, no local pain!
Environmental impacts & social acceptance  
          

The session will explore case studies and experiences on environmental impacts and will draw lessons for similar projects. There will be a focus on repowering, environmental impact assessments and wildlife.

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Learning objectives

• List top tips for mitigating environmental impact;
• List approaches to optimise the Environmental Impact Assessment process;
• Identify opportunities and challenges moving forward.

Co-chair(s):

Gonçalo Brotas ACHLI - Associação de Conservação do Habitat do Lobo Ibérico, Portugal
Co-authors:
Gonçalo Brotas (1) ^F Jose Oliveira (2) Cindy Loureiro (1)
(1) ACHLI - Associação de Conservação do Habitat do Lobo Ibérico, Esposende, Portugal (2) Ventominho - Energia Renovaveis SA, Esposende, Portugal

Creation and management of a compensatory scheme: wind farms and wolf habitat conservation in Portugal

Introduction

The Iberian wolf in Portugal is protected by National and EU laws. Building infrastructures on this species territory can originate impacts (disturbance, habitat reduction and fragmentation) that should be minimised. If impacts are not expected to be annulled by mitigation measures then compensatory measures should be considered to complement them. These measures are independent from the project. They are applied regarding the integrity and the long-term conservation of the wolf population and are intended to offset the negative impacts.
Over the past decade, Portugal has established an ambitious renewable energy programme. Wind energy significantly contributed to that programme with more than 4500 MW of installed capacity. Most of the wind farms in the northern and central regions of the country were developed in remote mountain areas, which have important biodiversity values, such as the Iberian wolf. The environmental impact assessment of several wind farms determined some mitigation and compensatory measures for wolf conservation due to potential impacts on Iberian wolf habitat. The compensatory measures are directed to the conservation of wolf habitat and should be applied throughout construction and the whole operational phase of the wind farms.


Approach

In order to implement these measures, a scheme that enables the participation of several wind farms, from different companies, was created. This scheme is developed by an association, called “ACHLI” (a non-profit organization), through a fund (Wolf Fund), financed according to the dimension of the wind farms (in MW), with the sole purpose of supporting wolf habitat management actions. The “Wolf Fund” is managed by ACHLI with the supervision of the Portuguese conservation authorities.

Main body of abstract

ACHLI started its activity in 2006 with the participation of 3 wind farms on a small region in central Portugal. Presently, 16 wind energy projects with 680 MW of installed capacity, from northern and central Portugal, contribute to the “Wolf Fund”. The scheme allows a scale effect and an adaptive management according to the results obtained from the actions developed.
Since 2007, several projects have been implemented in an integrated way, focusing on different aspects of wolf habitat conservation: forest management (323 ha of managed forests); reduction of human/wolf conflict (incentives to traditional herding and distribution of shepherd dogs); reintroduction of wild prey (roe deer reintroduction programme); implementation of restricted hunting areas (2323 ha created); and, public awareness. These projects are well received by local populations and Authorities.

Conclusion

At this point, it is difficult to assess the results of the projects on the conservation of the Iberian wolf. Nevertheless the operability and adaptation of the scheme as well as the long term and the complementarity of the projects are goals that are entirely accomplished and recognised by National Authorities.


Learning objectives
This scheme can be adapted and/or replicated in similar cases. The scale effect and adaptive management are great tools to implement environmental measures.