Reduce power line impact to improve the conservation of endangered birds in Iberia

Introduction

Numerous studies have clearly shown that overhead power lines pose a risk of collision and electrocution for birds. Portugal and Spain share this reality, including in Natura 2000 Special Protected Areas (SPA) where it poses a major threat to several endangered bird species.

Project Overview

LIFE PowerLines4Birds aims to protect bird species by reducing power line impact from electrocution and collision for 7 EU priority bird species highly vulnerable to this threat:

1. Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus)
2. Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
3. Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti)
4. Great Bustard (Otis tarda)
5. Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax)
6. Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus)
7. Roller (Coracias garrulus)

This project will substantially increase safe breeding and foraging areas by reducing the risk of bird mortality due to power lines in 23 cross-border SPAs (14PT+9SP), thus contributing to provide better survival conditions and to improve these species populations in the Iberian Peninsula.

Implementation in Portugal

In Portugal, retrofitting interventions in power lines will be implemented by E-Redes (electrical distribution company). This includes applying best practices already tested in Portugal and assessing the efficiency of new techniques.

Implementation in Spain

In Spain, corrections in power lines will be funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan. The suitability and efficiency for bird protection will be assessed by this LIFE project.

Additional Contributions

The project will also contribute to increase the distribution area and breeding success of the European Roller by using electrical poles that are electrocution safe to support nest boxes.

Governance and Stakeholder Engagement

It will also promote governance, bringing together relevant stakeholders to discuss and improve regulations and best practices, replicable to other companies and countries.

Conclusion

This project intends to be a step forward in the mitigation of power line impact on birds for both countries, upgrading stakeholders’ capacity and knowledge for improved grid sustainability and for Natura 2000 management.