Ecological impact assessments fail to reduce risk of bat casualties at wind farms.
Demand for renewable energy is rising exponentially. While this has benefits in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, there may be costs to biodiversity [1]. Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are the main tool used across the world to predict the overall positive and negative effects of renewable energy developments before planning consent is given, and the Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIAs) within them assess their species-specific effects. Given that EIAs are undertaken globally, are extremely expensive, and are enshrined in legislation, their place in evidence-based decision making deserves evaluation. Here we assess how well EIAs of wind-farm developments protect bats. We found they do not predict the risks to bats accurately, and even in those cases where high risk was correctly identified, the mitigation deployed did not avert the risk. Given that the primary purpose of an EIA is to make planning decisions evidence-based, our results indicate that EIA mitigation strategies used to date have been ineffective in protecting bats. In the future, greater emphasis should be placed on assessing the actual impacts post-construction and on developing effective mitigation strategies.
Hatherly Laboratories, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4PS, UK.
Paul R
PR
Lintott
Hatherly Laboratories, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4PS, UK.
Suzanne M
SM
Richardson
Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall, Tremough, Penryn, Cornwall, UK.
David J
DJ
Hosken
Hatherly Laboratories, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4PS, UK.
Sophie A
SA
Fensome
Hatherly Laboratories, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4PS, UK. Electronic address: F.Mathews@exeter.ac.uk.
Fiona
F
Mathews
D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D002685:Chiroptera; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D009026:Mortality; D059205:Renewable Energy; D006113:United Kingdom; D014919:Wind