The Ministry of the Environment and Waters stopped two wind farms dangerous for the birds in Dobrudja
17.07.2012
Some of the generators would be on the border of "Durankulak Lake" SPA, which has global significance and is home to thousands of rare and protected bird species.
The Minister of the Environment and Waters cancelled two Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) reports of the Regional Inspectorate of the Environment and Waters - Varna, allowing the construction of two big wind farms in Dobrudzha. The repeal came after complaints by the Bulgarian Society for Protection of Birds (BSPB) and Green Balkans. The stopped wind farms, consisting respectively of 150 wind turbines ("General Toshevo") and 95 wind turbines ("Smin") were scheduled to be built in one of the most intense parts of the migratory route Via Pontica, dangerously close to the SPA of the European Ecological Network Natura 2000. Some wind turbines would be located only a few hundred meters from the border of "Durankulak Lake" SPA, which is a protected zone of European and global importance. In winter tens of thousands of ducks and geese, including the globally threatened Red-breasted Goose, concentrate there. During the migration period thousands of storks, pelicans and raptors pass over Coastal Dobrudja.
The decisions by the Director of RIEW - Varna that approve the construction of wind farms "General Toshevo" and "Smin" are taken based on misinterpreted biological and ornithological information and incomplete assessments of the constituents, which do not meet the legal requirements and EU requirements. Residents of Shabla and the local hunting group of Durankulak, with their subscriptions also disagreed with the construction of wind farm "Smin". Experts from two of the biggest and most largely respected conservation organizations in the world – the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) also pronounced their disagreement with the construction of the wind farms. However, the Director of RIEW - Varna, ignoring the views of local residents and authorities in the field of conservation, controversially approved the construction of "Smin".
The Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds fights against the construction of wind farms in important bird areas since 2004. BSPB referred to the European Commission the case of construction of wind farms in Kaliakra SPA. The legal procedure in this case is in its final phase. On 21 June this year, Bulgaria received a final warning about the damages caused in Kaliakra. A second legal proceeding for lack of full protection of Natura 2000 sites is underway, the most common disorders being associated with the construction of wind parks.
We have repeatedly informed the public that the boom in developing renewable energy sources threatens the nature of Bulgaria. The lack of market mechanisms for the purchase of energy and restrictions on development in valuable natural areas led to a boom in investment projects with the corresponding negative social effects (increased cost of electrical energy) and damaged valuable habitats.
"Wind farms are especially dangerous for large soaring birds such as storks, eagles and vultures. Only one flight in the scope of the blades can be fatal for them, as it has already happened with a Griffon Vulture, which was killed in a wind farm near cape Kaliakra "sais Stoicho Stoichev, Director of Nature Conservation in BSPB.
BSPB thanks the Minister of Environment and Waters, Mrs. Nona Karadzhova, for the annulment of the decisions permitting the construction of the two dangerous wind farms. We hope the government will find mechanisms to stop the construction of other wind farms in important bird areas where permits for construction have been taken on the basis of flawed procedures.
Some of the generators would be on the border of "Durankulak Lake" SPA, which has global significance and is home to thousands of rare and protected bird species.
The Minister of the Environment and Waters cancelled two Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) reports of the Regional Inspectorate of the Environment and Waters - Varna, allowing the construction of two big wind farms in Dobrudzha. The repeal came after complaints by the Bulgarian Society for Protection of Birds (BSPB) and Green Balkans. The stopped wind farms, consisting respectively of 150 wind turbines ("General Toshevo") and 95 wind turbines ("Smin") were scheduled to be built in one of the most intense parts of the migratory route Via Pontica, dangerously close to the SPA of the European Ecological Network Natura 2000. Some wind turbines would be located only a few hundred meters from the border of "Durankulak Lake" SPA, which is a protected zone of European and global importance. In winter tens of thousands of ducks and geese, including the globally threatened Red-breasted Goose, concentrate there. During the migration period thousands of storks, pelicans and raptors pass over Coastal Dobrudja.
The decisions by the Director of RIEW - Varna that approve the construction of wind farms "General Toshevo" and "Smin" are taken based on misinterpreted biological and ornithological information and incomplete assessments of the constituents, which do not meet the legal requirements and EU requirements. Residents of Shabla and the local hunting group of Durankulak, with their subscriptions also disagreed with the construction of wind farm "Smin". Experts from two of the biggest and most largely respected conservation organizations in the world – the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) also pronounced their disagreement with the construction of the wind farms. However, the Director of RIEW - Varna, ignoring the views of local residents and authorities in the field of conservation, controversially approved the construction of "Smin".
The Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds fights against the construction of wind farms in important bird areas since 2004. BSPB referred to the European Commission the case of construction of wind farms in Kaliakra SPA. The legal procedure in this case is in its final phase. On 21 June this year, Bulgaria received a final warning about the damages caused in Kaliakra. A second legal proceeding for lack of full protection of Natura 2000 sites is underway, the most common disorders being associated with the construction of wind parks.
We have repeatedly informed the public that the boom in developing renewable energy sources threatens the nature of Bulgaria. The lack of market mechanisms for the purchase of energy and restrictions on development in valuable natural areas led to a boom in investment projects with the corresponding negative social effects (increased cost of electrical energy) and damaged valuable habitats.
"Wind farms are especially dangerous for large soaring birds such as storks, eagles and vultures. Only one flight in the scope of the blades can be fatal for them, as it has already happened with a Griffon Vulture, which was killed in a wind farm near cape Kaliakra "sais Stoicho Stoichev, Director of Nature Conservation in BSPB.
BSPB thanks the Minister of Environment and Waters, Mrs. Nona Karadzhova, for the annulment of the decisions permitting the construction of the two dangerous wind farms. We hope the government will find mechanisms to stop the construction of other wind farms in important bird areas where permits for construction have been taken on the basis of flawed procedures.
