Latest news with #RestoringUplandNature
The National
19 hours ago
- General
- The National
Scottish Borders wind farm plan 'to push out recovering golden eagles'
The charity Restoring Upland Nature (Run – formerly known as the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project) has raised concerns that proposals for the eight-turbine Scawd Law Wind Farm in the Moorfoot Hills present a high risk of habitat loss and collision, which could detrimentally impact on the still fragile golden eagle population in the area. The Moorfoot Hills are home to four distinct eagle territories, including one of the first settled breeding pairs in the project's history. Though once abundant in southern skies, by early 2018 the golden eagle population had decreased to between two and four pairs across Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders. READ MORE: White-tailed eagles breed in Northern Ireland for first time in 150 years Now thanks to the efforts of the Run's project team and support from a wide range of partners, the golden eagle population in the south of Scotland has more than tripled to the highest number recorded in the area for three centuries. Dr Cat Barlow, chief executive at RUN, said: 'The Additional Information Report (AIR) currently being used by the site's developers is dated and substantially underestimates the impact on golden eagles at a particularly critical time for the local population. 'Breeding territories must remain undisturbed for long-term population sustainability, as golden eagles are highly sensitive to disturbance and tend avoid areas around wind turbines. The expansion of wind farms without rigorous, up-to-date environmental data risks pushing these birds out of the very landscapes they need to survive. 'The Southern Uplands are now under immense pressure from development, which reinforces the urgent need for an up-to-date cumulative impact assessment study for the region – looking at existing and proposed wind farm, forestry and other developments – to mitigate risks and ensure golden eagles continue to thrive in southern skies. 'Though we believe sustainable energy is key to addressing the climate crisis and protecting our natural world in the long term, after comparing proposals with the insights provided by our state-of-the art monitoring equipment and detailed field observations by our highly experienced staff, we do not believe Scawd Law in the Moorfoot Hills is the right place for a wind farm development.' READ MORE: Historic Scottish castle with 800-year history goes on sale Fred. Olsen Renewables Ltd has submitted proposals to the Scottish Government seeking permission to develop Scawd Law Wind Farm, on the Holylee Estate approximately 4 km north of Walkerburn. The company has said the wind farm – which it has reduced in scale – could contribute £8m to the local economy over its operational lifetime. Addressing the issues around potential impact on the local bird population, a company report stated: 'As a result of scoping process, the potential effects of the Scawd Law Wind Farm on black grouse, goshawk, golden plover, curlew and snipe will be assessed in the Environmental Impact Assessment. 'The assessments carried out to date conclude that there will be no significant effect on any of the ornithological features. 'Still, embedded mitigation measures will be applied prior and during construction to ensure the compliance with the Wildlife Countryside Act (1981) as amended, and to follow good practice guidance and consultation recommendations with regard to breeding birds.'
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Golden eagle collision concerns over Walkerburn wind farm plans
A pioneering project to boost golden eagle numbers in the south of Scotland has raised collision risk concerns about a wind farm plan in the Olsen Renewables wants to construct eight turbines at Scawd Law near charity Restoring Upland Nature (RUN) - formerly the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project (SSGEP) - has objected to the scheme due to its potential impact on the nearby company has said the wind farm - which it has reduced in scale - could contribute £8m to the local economy over its operational lifetime. The first chicks from the project were released in a secret location in the Moffat Hills in 2018 having been brought from the the time there were only between two and four breeding pairs in the south of have risen to about 50 and they have spread their wings across the border into conservationists are concerned at the impact the Scawd Law scheme could have in the Moorfoot Hills which are home to one of the first settled breeding pairs from the Dr Cat Barlow said they did not believe it was the right place for a wind farm. "The Additional Information Report (AIR) currently being used by the site's developers is dated and substantially underestimates the impact on golden eagles at a particularly critical time for the local population," she said."Breeding territories must remain undisturbed for long-term population sustainability, as golden eagles are highly sensitive to disturbance and tend to avoid areas around wind turbines."The expansion of wind farms without rigorous, up-to-date environmental data risks pushing these birds out of the very landscapes they need to survive." She said a new impact assessment was needed as the current one underestimated the risk of Barlow added: "We know that the drive for renewable energy comes from a position of caring for the environment."Indeed, it is key to reducing the carbon emissions which cause climate change - the greatest long-term threat to Scotland's wildlife."We are supportive of renewable energy developments in the right place, but it is crucial that the most up-to-date insights are used in the consideration of proposals to ensure wildlife and renewable energy can thrive together."Fred Olsen Renewables has been approached for comment.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
SNP's new net zero wind farm ‘will harm golden eagles'
A net zero wind farm in Scotland is likely to harm rare golden eagles, warn conservationists. The SNP Government is considering a proposal for Scawd Law, an eight-turbine scheme on the Holylee estate in the Scottish Borders. Each turbine would be up to 180m tall and, according to developer Fred Olsen Renewables, the wind farm would generate more than £8 million for the local community. However, ministers have been warned that the wind farm's impact on golden eagles – a protected species – has been 'substantially' underestimated. They are being urged to block the scheme with concerns raised over the cumulative impact of wind farms in the region, which is being driven by the SNP's net zero targets. Dr Cat Barlow, the chief executive of Restoring Upland Nature (RUN), said the charity had formally objected to Scawd Law. 'After comparing proposals with the insights provided by our state-of-the art monitoring equipment and detailed field observations by our highly experienced staff, we do not believe Scawd Law in the Moorfoot Hills is the right place for a wind farm development,' Dr Barlow said. 'The additional information report currently being used by the site's developers is dated and substantially underestimates the impact on golden eagles at a particularly critical time for the local population.' Scottish ministers have pledged to reach net zero by 2045. However, regions such as the Scottish Borders have emerged as battlegrounds with local communities fighting the expansion of wind farms. These include plans for a 62-turbine scheme near Teviothead and the 59-turbine Liddesdale wind farm that if consented would be located a couple of miles apart. Borders Wind Farm Watch, a campaign group, said the developer's information report relies on data that only account for eagle activity up to early 2024. The group said 'it estimates minimal impact' and pointed to recent tracking held by RUN showing eagle presence has surged by 238 per cent in the area. It said this 'drastically' alters the risk profile, adding: 'Collision risk estimates based on older data are no longer valid and significantly understate the threat'. Though once abundant in southern Scotland, by early 2018 the golden eagle population had decreased to between two and four pairs across Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders. Conservation efforts have helped the species bounce back and the golden eagle population in the south of Scotland has more than tripled to the highest number recorded in the area for three centuries. Last year, a three-year-old golden eagle named Sparky died after colliding with a wind turbine in Dumfries and Galloway. It was locally fledged from a nest and was found 15 metres from a turbine base at the Windy Rig wind farm. Dr Barlow said breeding territories must remain undisturbed for long-term population sustainability, as golden eagles were highly sensitive to disturbance and tended to avoid areas around wind turbines. She warned that the expansion of wind farms 'without rigorous, up-to-date environmental data risks pushing these birds out of the very landscapes they need to survive'.
