BfN funded projects
The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) has funded a number of research projects focused on the expansion of renewable energy and associated Nature conservation concerns. Subsequently, two of these projects that are being conducted by BioConsult SH and its partners will be presented. For further information on these and on all of the other projects, the agency has established a website dedicated to the subject area.
Projects:
- Species-specific effectiveness of bird flight diverters at power lines
- Effectiveness of measures to reduce bird collisions with wind turbines
Species-specific effectiveness of bird flight diverters at power lines
Birds regularly collide with overhead powerlines (high and highest voltage pipelines), which has been documented for Germany, Europe and the World. There are marked differences for the bird species that are affected with respect to different landscape types and geographic regions. In order to the reduce collisions and fatalities with overhead powerlines, deterrence measures, so called bird protection marker of various kinds, are being used.
Studies investigating the efficiency of these bird protection markers have been conducted. The results demonstrate that these markers can be efficient, however, on the other hand it is also shown that there are differences in efficiency that are not only dependent on the kind of bird protection marker, but also on species group and other environmental variables. Thus, the reported efficiencies are variable; there are indications, especially for areas with high bird densities, that a significantly increased risk for collisions and thus an added increase in mortality cannot be excluded even when deterrence measures are being deployed.
The aim of this research project is to analyse the species-related efficiency of the various bird protection marker, to describe and assess the influence of other factors; a convention taking into account the species specific efficiency of markers is going to be prepared.
Further information can be found on the BfN project homepage (in German).
This project is being conducted in collaboration with ARSU (Arbeitsgruppe für regionale Struktur- und Umweltforschung GmbH Oldenburg).
For further information please refer to the final report (in German):
Liesenjohann, M., Blew, J., Fronczek, S., Reichenbach, M. & Bernotat, D. (2019):
Artspezifische Wirksamkeiten von Vogelschutzmarkern an Freileitungen. Methodische Grundlagen zur Einstufung der Minderungswirkung durch Vogelschutzmarker – ein Fachkonventionsvorschlag
Bundesamt für Naturschutz (Hrsg.). BfN -Skripten 537: 286 S.Download documentExternal Link
The results of the study were also published here (in German):
funding period: 15/12/2016 - 15/11/2017
Funding ID 3516 83 0700
Contact:
Effectiveness of measures to reduce bird collisions with wind turbines
With the expansion of onshore wind energy the growing demand for suitable project sites leads to increasing conflicts with nature conservation interests. Especially birds are affected when collisions with wind turbines lead to additional mortality. In order to minimize and / or to compensate the effects of wind farms on birds, a variety of measures are being employed. Among these are: regulation of wind farm operation, avoidance of bird attraction, sound and optical stimuli to deter birds from the risk area. Regarding species protection aspects, the effectivity of these measures has not yet been sufficiently investigated. This project will develop a method to determine the effectivity and thus the success of the selected measures. Its aim is to thereby help secure a nature friendly expansion of wind energy.
Further information can be found on the BfN project homepage (in German).
This project is being conducted in collaboration with ARSU (Arbeitsgruppe für regionale Struktur- und Umweltforschung GmbH Oldenburg) and ANUVA (ANUVA - Stadt- und Umweltplanung GbR).
For further information please refer to the final report (in German):
Blew, J., Albrecht, K., Reichenbach, M., Bußler, S., Grünkorn, T., Menke, K., & Middeke, O. (2018):
Wirksamkeit von Maßnahmen gegen Vogelkollisionen an Windenergieanlagen.
Bundesamt für Naturschutz (Hrsg.). BfN-Skripten 518: 129 S.Download documentExternal Link
funding period: 01/09/2016 - 30/09/2017
Funding ID 3516 82 2700
Contact:
