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This snapshot, taken on 07/08/2007, shows web content selected for preservation by The National Archives. External links, forms and search boxes may not work in archived websites.
Ecology can be defined as habitats and species, flora and fauna. It can be specific to a location or on the move.
A variety of areas throughout the UK are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Ramsar sites, National Nature Reserves, Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) as a result of their ecological importance.
SSSIs are UK designations while SACs and SPAs are designated under the European Habitats Directive and are therefore protected under international law. To enhance the statutory protection of SSSIs, many are in the process of being designated as SPAs and/or SACs. Ramsar sites are designated and protected by an inter-governmental treaty between 18 nations for the conservation of natural resources, in particular wetlands.
In addition to national and international ecological designations, local authorities also identify sites for their local ecological value using a variety of designations. Some areas are also designated as Local Nature Reserves under powers available through the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The majority of such designations relate to the presence of locally significant habitats such as lowland heath and ancient woodland, much of which is of significant local amenity value, particularly in an urban context. Another popular term used to cover these designations is biodiversity.
Local, national and international ecological designations cover extensive areas of the coast, undeveloped parts of unimproved upland areas, wooded areas and river valleys. Designations also exist on a smaller, fragmented pattern in more developed and farmed areas of the country.
Where a proposed development will have an adverse impact on the integrity of the areas mentioned above, development is likely to be resisted by statutory and non-statutory nature conservation bodies.
Potential effects during construction and decommissioning of wind turbines are similar due to the land area, infrastructure and operations involved. The extent and type of impacts depend on the site in question; for example, the access road extensions/amendments required, the number of turbines and the foundations required, the surrounding land uses and current levels of biodiversity are all specific to each onshore development.
Potential effects during the operation of the turbines are again development specific. However, they do tend to relate more to species on the move rather than to habitats, for example birds.
It is essential that the possible impacts of the development are properly scoped, and any adverse effects investigated in detail.
Many of the potential adverse effects of a wind farm are identified during the development of the project, well before it reaches the planning application or development consent stage. The detailed findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) expand upon the preliminary work and are often pivotal to the micrositing of the turbines. Planning conditions can be used to reduce any adverse effects that cannot be mitigated completely, but which are not significant enough to refuse the scheme. These could require the preparation of a habitat management plan before work starts, or the presence of an ecological officer during construction (and decommissioning).