Potential mitigation measures for electric grid infrastructures affecting wild birds

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5. POTENTIAL MITIGATION MEASURES FOR

ELECTRIC GRID INFRASTRUCTURES AFFECTING

WILD BIRDS

5.1 What are mitigation measures?

When the assessment of an energy infrastructure plan or project undertaken under Article 6

of the Habitats Directive identifies a number of negative effects on a Natura 2000 site, the

plan or project is not automatically rejected. Depending on the severity of the potential

impacts, it may be possible to introduce mitigation measures that will remove, pre-empt, or

reduce to an insignificant level the potential negative impacts of a plan or project.

While this chapter is focusing on the Natura 2000 sites, measures that reduce the negative

impacts should also be envisaged under EIA/SEA for plans and projects for which there is no

need to undergo appropriate assessments but would have a negative impact on protected

species.

In order to decide which mitigation measures are required, it is essential first to assess the

effects of the plan or project on the EU protected species and habitat types present in the

Natura 2000 site (alone or in combination with other projects or plans). This will identify the

nature and extent of the negative effects and provide a baseline against which to determine

the type of mitigation measures required.

In short, effective mitigation of adverse effects on Natura 2000 sites can only take place once

the potential negative effects have been fully recognised, assessed and reported. The

identification of mitigation measures, like the impact assessment itself, must be based on a

sound understanding of the species/ habitats concerned.

Mitigation measures can involve modifications to the size, location, design and configuration

of various aspects of the energy infrastructure plan or project (e.g. insulate the conductors to

avoid electrocution). Or they can take the form of temporal adjustments during the

construction and operational phases (e.g. avoiding construction works during the breeding

season).

Figure 4: Hierarchical approach to adopting mitigation measures. Mitigation should always aspire to

the top of the mitigation hierarchy (i.e. avoiding impacts at source)

Approach to mitigation

Preference

Avoid impacts at source

Highest

Lowest

Reduce impacts at source

Abate impacts on site

Abate impacts at receptor