Annex 1: National and international initiatives

• Pages: 110-117

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EN Annex1/6

Annex 1: National and international initiatives

Examples of national legislation

This section describes examples among others of national legislation on biodiversity impacts

of energy transmission facilities.

Germany

Article 41 of the German Law on Nature Protection and Landscape Conservation (Gesetz

über Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege), indicates that the poles and technical components

of the medium voltage cables to be constructed must be designed to protect birds from

electrocution. For existing medium voltage cables with a high risk to birds, the necessary

measures must be taken up to 31 December 2012 to protect birds from electrocution.

Slovakia

Under Slovakian law, article §4 of the Act No 543/2002 Coll. on Nature and Landscape

Protection states (as amended): ”everyone who constructs or carries out scheduled

reconstruction of overhead electricity lines is obliged to use technical solutions that prevent

killing birds” and “if killing birds on electricity lines or telecommunication facilities is verifiable,

the nature protection body may rule that an administrator of electricity lines or

telecommunication facilities has to adopt measures to prevent killing birds”. The district or

regional environmental offices give their opinion for each territorial decision or building permit

(including those on electricity infrastructure). In 2007, a guidance was prepared to eliminate

mortality of birds on electricity infrastructure. It contains the summary of legal tools, the

description of appropriate technical solutions, both for mountainous and plain sites, and

suggestions for further solutions (such as not legally binding meetings with the energy

companies before the decision is made).

Spain

In Spain, regional and national laws were approved with regard to avian electrocution:

decree 178/2006 (October 10th)

59 establishing rules for the protection of birds from high-

tension power lines in the Junta de Andalucía, and Royal Decree 1432/2008 (August 29th)60,

establishing technical measures for high-tension power lines in order to protect birds. This

national decree prevents companies from putting up dangerous power lines in sensitive

areas for birds (including SPAs). This decree settles some binding technical prescriptions for

the electricity pylon design, anti-collision measures, schedule of works, etc.

Implementation of international conventions

Several MS are also implementing recommendation n°110 of the Bern Convention by

adopting in national legislation the technical standards for safety of power lines, planning and

anti-collision measures.

Voluntary agreements and tools

59 DECRETO 178/2006, de 10 de octubre, por el que se establecen normas de protección de la avifauna para las instalaciones

eléctricas de alta tensión

60 REAL DECRETO 1432/2008, de 29 de agosto, por el que se establecen medidas para la protección de la avifauna contra la

colisión y la electrocución en líneas eléctricas de alta tensión