The purpose of conservation is to guard biodiversity and stop species from disappearing. We frequently affiliate this work with the upkeep of pure areas, however Audubon’s science exhibits that chook populations are feeling impacts of climate change even in protected locations like wildlife refuges. As only one instance, Burrowing Owls are projected to lose 14% of their present vary if the common international temperature will increase by 3 levels Celsius. Except we are able to scale back air pollution and sluggish the speed of warming, many chook species will face extinction on account of elements like vary loss and sea stage rise.
That’s why local weather motion is conservation—and why clear vitality is vital to saving billions of birds. Rooftop photo voltaic and microgrids must be maximized as a part of the transition, however utility-scale infrastructure is vital to reaching web zero emissions. As deployment ramps up, conservation teams can play a key position in ensuring that infrastructure is deliberate with each wildlife and folks in thoughts.
Audubon workers and chapters throughout the U.S. have been partaking on proposed wind, photovoltaic photo voltaic, and transmission tasks to ensure that they keep away from, decrease, and mitigate impacts on birds and the locations they want. Guided by one of the best obtainable science and mapping know-how, we work with builders, wildlife companies, and affected communities to establish potential impacts and be certain that developments can happen expeditiously in areas of least battle. This work can be knowledgeable by our 2023 Birds and Transmission report, which lays out the necessity for a speedy growth of transmission capability to maneuver renewable vitality from excessive useful resource areas to inhabitants facilities.
Neighborhood, conservation, and local weather issues must be factored into each step of the procurement and improvement course of. This strategy was first outlined within the Beyond Carbon-Free framework developed by Audubon, The Nature Conservancy, and LevelTen Vitality in 2021. Now, it’s a guiding element of a latest landmark agreement to advance large-scale U.S. photo voltaic improvement whereas championing land conservation and supporting area people pursuits.
Listed below are just some ways in which conservation teams can become involved:
- Interact in “least battle” planning processes that establish optimum siting for essentially the most environment friendly and well timed allowing.
- Accomplice with clear vitality builders on analysis to raised perceive, keep away from, and decrease impacts on wildlife of wind and photo voltaic vitality.
- Submit feedback on proposed tasks in addition to proposed rulemakings associated to the allowing, funding, and deployment of transmission and clear vitality infrastructure.
- Work with clear vitality and transmission builders to implement accountable siting and operation practices.
- Advocate for early and continued session with Tribal Nations in addition to state and federal wildlife companies.
- Encourage coordination with any affected communities.
Native data is vital, and each mission has totally different issues, however listed here are a few of Audubon’s high line suggestions for improvement with the least influence on birds and the locations they want at present and tomorrow:
- Comply with the mitigation hierarchy of keep away from first, decrease second, and supply compensatory mitigation as a final step.
- Modernize and broaden present transmission capability through grid-enhancing applied sciences (GETs) reminiscent of dynamic line rankings, energy circulation controllers, storage, and reconductoring.
- Prioritize using beforehand disturbed lands and present proper of the way the place applicable and in session with native affected communities.
- Keep away from uncommon, distinctive, and delicate excessive conservation worth lands reminiscent of grasslands, intact sagebrush-steppe, native forests, and wetlands, with particular consideration to migratory pathways, wildlife corridors, and fragmentation of habitat.
- Keep away from or decrease impacts to species and habitat in Audubon Necessary Chook Areas (IBAs) and recognized wildlife administration areas.
- Seek the advice of early, typically, and meaningfully with Tribal Nations in addition to State and Federal wildlife companies, and coordinate with impacted communities.
- Guarantee environment friendly allowing below the Endangered Species Act, Bald & Golden Eagle Safety Act, and Migratory Chook Treaty Act as vital, together with any state wildlife permits.
- Web site as shut as potential to transmission interconnection to keep away from lengthy distribution strains to the grid (gen-tie strains) and roads.
- Construct underground strains when possible.
- Present profit agreements with affected communities, prioritizing tribes and environmental justice.
Because of a well-established and strong scientific data base and ongoing analysis and improvement of latest applied sciences, there are various methods to cut back dangers to wildlife. There isn’t a such factor as impact-free vitality improvement, however we’ve seen optimistic outcomes from working collaboratively to keep away from, decrease, or offset these impacts by means of science-based options.
Collectively, we are able to ensure that wildlife conservation and clear vitality improvement go hand in hand. As a result of local weather motion is conservation—and with it, we are able to defend the locations and birds we maintain pricey.