Abstract
Climate change and biodiversity loss, if not averted immediately, may inflict severe impacts on ecosystem processes, functions and services that are crucial for human welfare. Increasing renewable energy deployment and expanding the current protected area network represent key solutions to these challenges, but conflicts may arise over the use of limited land for renewable energies as opposed to biodiversity conservation (Pogson et al. 2013; Pouzols et al. 2014; Meller et al. 2015).
Development of wind power, one major type of renewable energy, is strongly increasing in Europe and elsewhere (AWEA 2014; EWEA 2015; Wang et al. 2015). Impacts on biodiversity by wind power are strongly contingent on the location of the wind turbines. Consequently, conflicts between nature conservation, local communities and wind energy companies are frequent, in terms of biodiversity conservation, in particular with regard to the impact of wind energy on birds and bats (Loss et al. 2013; Wang et al. 2015). Different kinds of impacts can occur and some of them are difficult to assess, particularly for rare and for endangered species (Stewart et al. 2007; BirdLife International 2013). The lack of comprehensive empirical data and of evidence-based knowledge syntheses of biodiversity impacts and the effectiveness of mitigation measures might hamper the long-term development of the wind power industry by reaffirming negative stereotypes and public opposition (Masden et al. 2010; BirdLife International 2013; May et al. 2015; Wang et al. 2015). The Ministry of Environment and Water commissioned the preparation of a “Full-scale independent impact assessment of the exploitation of wind parks in the region of Kaliakra, pursuant to Recommendation 200 (2018) of the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention”. Herewith, the final report (“Activity 3”) with the results from this analysis, containing an assessment, recommendations, and conclusion is delivered.