| The destruction of Scotland and its wildlife . |
(3560) |
| WINDFARMS ARE BEING BUILT IN THE MOST PRISTINE LANDSCAPES AND THE MOST SENSITIVE BIRD HABITATS . |
Environmental law is being mocked, and spin routinely used by politicians, businessmen, and ornithologists alike . Money is king, and the rule of law has become a joke. The European Commission remain silent as their wildlife protection setup is being violated left and right, and the Council of Europe is wasting money on the European Landscape Convention while our best landscapes are being bulldozed .
To think we had the nerve to blast the Talibans for destroying a few statues : we are doing far worse . |
.
.
.
.
Picture : typical Scottish landscape ( loch Avich ).
Yet another mega-windfarm is being planned for the isle of Lewis, one of Europe´s foremost eagle sanctuaries, and a favourite destination for nature tourism . It has name PAIRC, and will put the final touch to the destruction of the island .
Particulars :
- a blanket peat habitat extremely rich in bird life, bordering Important Bird Area UK 224. Peat is a carbon sink, storing C02 from the atmosphere. Destroying peat releases C02. The Treaty of Kyoto recommends protecting blanket peat, not destroying it .
- a total of 85 species were recorded by Ecology UK . This includes 16 species given special protection under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
- among the many "Annex 1" birds either residing, breeding, wintering, or using the area as staging post in their migrations, we count 9 breeding pairs of Merlins, 4 resident pairs of Golden Eagles and two resident pairs of White-Tailed-Sea Eagles , plus a few immature eagles of each species.
- The Environmental Statement predicts the death by collision of 2.64-6.60 golden eagles per year, with 98% and 95% avoidance rates, respectively. That´s 66-165 eagles to be killed over the life of the windfarm. The contribution of the Pairc windfarm to the extinction of the golden eagle species in the UK will be substantial.
- mortality of rare White-Tailed Eagles and Black-Throated Divers, and of protected Red-Throated Divers and Golden Plovers, is also predicted.
- the collision risk for Merlins, which have 9 breeding pairs on the site, is not assessed. The risk to Hen Harriers, Peregrine Falcons, Whooper Swans, Dunlins, Greenshanks, and 4 species of Geese all present on the site was dismissed as being of low significance for their species . However, cumulative effects with the other windfarms in Scotland were not addressed, yet there are 500 of them, built or planned .
SPIN BEING APPLIED :
In a BBC interview, proponents of the windfarm minimised the importance of the eagle-kill prediction : " once the pair whose territory is centred on the new farm is lost, a void will exist, causing the eagle mortality to drop off after the first few years. "
Deceitful arguments such as this are current in the disinformation war going on in Scotland. Luckily, an increasing number of professionals are willing to take the stand against corrupt rhetoric. - This is what replied a zoologist from Oxford University ( emphasis is mine ):
quote
Dear Scottish Ministers,
As a citizen (and as a biologist), I wish to
object very strongly indeed to the SSE Plc
proposed windfarm with associated
infrastructure, on the Isle of Lewis (Pàirc Estate).
It is not necessary on national grounds to
destroy this site of European importance for
wildlife. Alternative energy sources are
available. This development would thus breach international laws.
I understand from BBC media reports (website
below) that an environmental statement suggests
mortality of eagles will diminish once a "void"
is created around the turbines. This suggestion
is, biologically, rubbish. If you doubt it,
please read work done by Prof. John R. Krebs
(now Lord Krebs), in the Edward Grey Institute
for Field Ornithology, Oxford. This shows
clearly that removal of a territorial bird is
very likely to draw in other birds trying to use
the territory. The likely consequence for
eagles, etc, is therefore that a population
"sink" (or sump) is created, with a continuous and substantial kill.
The experience of windfarms and eagles in Norway
should be sufficient to convince any developer
that they should take warnings from
ornithologists seriously if they really care about wildlife and the law.
If permitted, the current proposal will
doubtless do great damage to "protected" birds,
to peatland habitat, be of little if any value
to the carbon balance, and will be cited for
years as a model of just how bad wind farms can
be. It will also call into question the
credibility of current legislation, and cause
dismay amongst many hoping to protect the beauty
and special character of Scottish biodiversity.
Please contact me if you require more information.
Yours sincerely,
Clive Hambler
Lecturer in Biological and Human Sciences,
Hertford College / Dept. of Zoology,
University of Oxford.
BBC source cited: Wind farm "is threat to eagle"
unquote
------------------------------
The Pairc project needs to be defeated. More objections are needed, to be sent to energyconsents@scotland.gsi.gov.uk before July 25th.
Here is one just sent by Peter & Christine Metcalfe, gallant defenders of Scottish wildlife ( emphasis is mine ):
quote
Dear Sir,
We should like to strongly object to the proposed SSE application for a wind
power development at the Pairc Estate on Lewis.
There are many are varied reason why this is to be viewed as one of the most
irresponsibly proposed sites to come before the Scottish Executive. It is
to be hoped that the new incumbents will take this opportunity to help to restore
a sense of reason in planning and protection for such areas.
Just a few of our main objections are listed as follows:
1. The Environmental Statement predicts a wholly unacceptable level of
collision kills for golden eagles alone of between 66 - 165 over the life of
the wind power plant. Add to this the undoubted risks to merlin,
white-tailed eagles red & black throated divers and a raft of other Schedule
1 species including Whooper Swans - a species at particular risk of
collision. This is a proposal for which a refusal to consider cumulative
effects from other Scottish wind developments will be a gross dereliction of
duty, and will be bound to attract the attention of the European Commission.
2. Landscape and visual amenity will be seriously affected.
3. It is unacceptable that SSE have not submitted a serious and expert
noise assessment.
4. The residents of the Pairc Estate with crofting and/or agricultural
interests have a right to expect protection from a development liable to
have a negative effect on their living and environment.
5. The question of peat degradation is a serious concern and an
admitted significant risk. Any repeat of the damage caused by the
development at the Braes of Doune would be catastrophic for this area.
Such events cannot be reversed and the damage is permanent, as are
any losses from the carbon "sink"effect of peatlands.
6. The local historic landscape has been admitted to be under
significant threat of damage and should therefore also attract a refusal
of planning permission.
We sincerely hope that a rapid decision is taken to reject
any proposal for this location now, and in the future.
We should also appreciate this letter being counted as two
objections as our views over this are identical.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. & Mrs. P.S. Metcalfe.
unquote
More on the infamous Pairc project will be published shortly on Iberica2000.
Mark Duchamp....................................18 July 2007
The dark side of windfarms
| Insertado
por: Mark Duchamp (18/07/2007) |
| Fuente/Autor:
Mark Duchamp |
Valoración
Comentarios
|
