Improving implementation of nature protection standards in wind farms projects

During the implementation of ETNAR small grant project “Improving implementation of nature protection standards in wind farms projects”, Center for protection and research of birds of Montenegro managed to achieve certain consensus with all relevant stakeholders for necessity of development of Bird Sensitivity Map that would facilitate application of nature protection standards when projecting wind farms. Being involved from the very beginning of the project the Ministry of sustainable development and tourism expressed their willingness to support the development of Bird Sensitivity Map as well as to consider development of similar map for hydropower projects to serve as a baseline for the new Spatial plan of Montenegro from 2020. Having in mind the time frame of developing such an important maps and political influence related to the energy projects in Montenegro it is expected to implement Bird Sensitivity Map during the following three years of research on sensitive bird species which gives less time to advocate for its incorporation in the Spatial plan.

In addition to the Feasibility study it is highly expected for the European Bank for the Reconstruction and Development to support development of Bird Sensitivity Map upon finalization of the Feasibility study and adopted Action Plan by relevant Ministry. On the other hand Environmental Protection Agency expressed their willingness to have an ownership over the map due to the fact that the collected data would serve for the construction buildings on wind farms projects. It is still an ongoing process, thus according to Montenegrin by laws the Environmental Impact Assessment is mandatory only for the wind farms consisting of more than 8 wind turbines. The existence of Bird Sensitivity Map in future would be a strong argument for smaller wind farms that could affect avifauna of Montenegro severely if not projected according to nature protection standards.