The wind energy sector has grown globally as part of efforts to reduce human dependence on fossil fuels and curb climate change. In Ireland, wind farms have become a feature of the landscape in recent decades. Many Irish wind energy developments are mostly sited in upland areas, as these provide higher wind yields and fewer competing interests. However, many of the habitats and species found in these areas are of conservation interest, raising concerns about the environmental effects of wind energy developments.
Hen harrier: an Annex1 listed species, with documented population declines due to loss of suitable nesting and foraging habitat in upland areas and persecution. Wind energy development in upland areas therefore has the potential to become a further pressure on the species.
Hen Harrier’s were once widespread across the Irish landscape, their population numbers have declined, and their range has become increasingly restricted over the past two centuries, due to the loss and degradation of suitable habitats and to human persecution. The Irish hen harrier population is currently estimated at 108-157 breeding pairs, with marked declines recorded in some regions.
For wind energy to be truly sustainable, the potential ecological effects of these developments need to be fully understood and taken into consideration during the different phases of the planning process and of a wind farm’s lifetime. An accurate understanding of wind farm effects on biodiversity can inform best practice to allow for wind energy development in a manner compatible with environmental and conservation priorities and ensure that we simultaneously address the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis effectively.
