Nature Features

The RSPB now says adopting cleaner energy sources is vital for protecting wildlife. They were previously opposed to wind farms because it said they disturbed breeding grounds.

An RSPB-commissioned report from the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), calls on the Government to step in to ensure better and quicker decisions on wind farms, while protecting wildlife and winning the backing of local communities.

Wind turbines met just less than two per cent of the UK's electricity demands in 2007, though deployment levels varied, with Scotland significantly out-performing other parts of the UK.

The report drew up conclusions on how to protect wildlife and deliver wind power on a large scale.

It recommended:

• The planning system should take a strategic approach, identifying both those areas where new turbines are given priority and those where they are most likely to conflict with wildlife.

Wind turbines

• This should be informed by clear and detailed information about which areas are of most concern to conservationists. Bird sensitivity maps are already used to guide developments in parts of the UK.

• The Government should provide strong leadership to tackle the lack of specialist know-how in local authorities, set local targets for wind turbines and make sure planning decisions take account of the fact wind power is a national priority.

• There should be an expectation that developers and other interested parties discuss proposed developments before planning applications are submitted to reduce conflict.

John Clare from the RSPB told the BBC:  "We want wind farms - but we want them in the right place!   Sited in the wrong place, wind farms can disturb breeding grounds and harm wildlife habitats, which is obviously something we want to avoid. 

"We need to think very carefully about where wind farms are situated, and if all parties involved can think properly, and get it right from the start, then there is no reason for any anyone to object to the vast majority of wind farms, enabling us to have the clean energy which we so desperately need to fight climate change. "