DATA ANALYSIS TO INFORM THE WIND FARM RISKS
The list of protected species according to either the National or Regional regulations appears in the Figure 1. After the Latin name there are the Spanish and Regional catalogue's classifications.
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| Figure1. List of protected species at National/regional level in the study area |
This list is quite complete. However, SEO-Birdlife DID NOT FOUND AN EGYPTIAN VULTURE ROOSTING SITE DESPITE IT WAS ONLY 300 m!! (THREE HUNDRED) METERS OF A PLANNED TURBINE) ¿? WHY? This roosting site existed for more than 20 years now, it was monitored by the Doñana Biological Station-National Research Council (EBD) since then. SEO DID NOT ASK EBD, OMITTING ALSO ANY CONSULTATION PROCESS as is mandatory /fair in any good study. WHY THEY DID NOT ASK? It has to be its own initiative if they presume of a well renowned environmental organization.
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| Photo: Egyptian Vulture roosting site located 300 m from the nearest turbine that was never monitored. SEO-Birdlife argues nobody warned them of its presence (J.A. Pinzolas) |
CUMULATIVE IMPACTS:
The report OMMITS ANY REFERENCE to other joining projects in its vicinity suc as Monlora I, Monlora II, Monlora IV ... Normally, developers SPLIT BIGGER PROJECTS INTO SMALLER ONES < 50 MW to avoid the Environmental consent be informed by the National Government instead by the Regional one.
This is noteworthy, as SEO-Birdlife has been very active for years now fighting at Courts against wind farm project fragmentations:
THESE ARE THREE EXAMPLES WHERE SEO-BIRDLIFE OPPOSSES TO WIND FARM FRAGMENTATION. They do not mention anything about the remaining Monlora projects although. SEO Birdlife published in 2014 (Atienza et al. ,2014) The Guidelines to Assess impacts by wind farms Page 16 of this document deals with the fragmentation concern. They could argue this project it is not an EIA (Environmental Impact Study) but they were developing this pre-construction monitoring as if a single wind farm would be planned.
WHY NOT SEO BIRDLIFE DID MENTION THAT OTHER WIND PROJECTS WERE PLANNED IN THE AREA? The developer was the same so it cannot be justified they did not know.
The argument this is only a bird study is not a fair one; any study about potential impact of birds at wind farms should include such kind of related issues that, in the end, affect the magnitude of project impacts.
WHY NOT SEO BIRDLIFE DID MENTION THAT OTHER WIND PROJECTS WERE PLANNED IN THE AREA? The developer was the same so it cannot be justified they did not know.
The argument this is only a bird study is not a fair one; any study about potential impact of birds at wind farms should include such kind of related issues that, in the end, affect the magnitude of project impacts.
DECISION ON THE PROJECT: After the study SEO-Birdlife concludes Monlora III Wind farm is a GO PROJECT
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