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M.G.C. Martins & J. Aranha 2010. Electrical network hazard assessment for the avifauna in Portugal
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Electrical network hazard assessment for the avifauna in Portugal
Miguel G. C. Martins 1 & José Aranha 1,2*
1 Departamento de Ciências Florestais e Arquitectura Paisagista, Universidade de Trásos-Montes
e Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real
2 CITAB, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real
Abstract
The suspended electrical network represents a danger to the birds’ wildlife conservation, both
because of the possibility of collision and electrocution. Land use type is strictly related to
birds’ presence, eating habits and nesting. This way they are factors that are directly related to
collision and electrocution hazards.
This work was based on the occurrences geographical position and the location of suspended
electrical network. The available data were used to create a GIS in order to calculate hazard
maps, by means of geostatistical processes and multivariate analysis.
The final results indicate that approximately 46% of the total (km) electrical network analysed
are classified with the two higher hazard classes in the case of electrocution, and about 40% in
the case of collision. The classification maps show that the danger of electrocution is greatest in
the central and southern Portugal, and the danger of collision is higher in the central region.
Keywords: Avifauna; Collision, Electrocution; Hazard Assessment, GIS
1. Introduction
In the year of 2003, four Portuguese entities: the Portuguese enterprise for electrical energy
(EDP – Electricidade De Portugal), the Portuguese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICN –
Instituto da Conservação da Natureza), the National Association for Nature Conservation
(Quercus - Associação Nacional de Conservação da Natureza) and the Portuguese Society for
Birds Survey (SPEA - Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves), signed up a protocol, in
order to analyse the relationship between the Portuguese electrical network (high and middle
power) and the birds’ wildlife conservation.
This research project was derived for entire continental Portugal, with special attention to areas
under special protection areas (SPA’s) for birds nesting and migration (ZPE - Zonas de
Protecção Especial) and areas classified Important Bird Areas (IBA’s), whish represent
1372966 ha.
The study sought to characterize, in general, the impacts of the electrical power network on the
avifauna, in the identification and classification of power lines and their wire supports, in order
to create a hazard index (Brandão et al. 2005; Martins 2009).
The results from a research project derived in Spain showed that the use of orange PVC spirals
along electrical power wire network leaded to a decrease in 60% of birds’ collision to electrical
wire. The results also showed that the use of these orange PVC spirals reduced the number of
birds flying between suspended electrical wire leading birds to fly over or under electrical
power wire network (Ferrer & Janss, 1999).
* Corresponding author; Tel.: + 00 351 259 350 856 - Fax: + 00 351 250 350 480
Email address : j.aranha.utad@gmail.com
Forest Landscapes and Global Change-New Frontiers in Management, Conservation and Restoration. Proceedings of the IUFRO Landscape Ecology
Working Group International Conference, September 21-27, 2010, Bragança, Portugal. J.C. Azevedo, M. Feliciano, J. Castro & M.A. Pinto (eds.)
2010, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.