At the award presentation, Svetoslav Spassov from BSPB said: “I am happy that we have succeeded in implementing large-scale projects, in which we have together with local power distribution companies made power poles safe, and thus prevented the death of many imperial eagles in Bulgaria and Egyptian vultures in Sudan.” Both birds are endangered and very rare, and perching on unsafe power poles and electrocution is a frequent cause of death to these majestic birds. “Certainly, there is a lot more to be done, and for the complete solution of the problem it is needed that state institutions, private power distribution companies and environmental organization work together,” Mr. Spassov added.
In Bulgaria, within the framework of the LIFE+ project “Conservation of Imperial Eagle and Saker Falcon in key Natura 2000 sites in Bulgaria”, a research was conducted, in which satellite transmitters were attached to 25 young imperial falcons. And it showed that the cause of death in 67% of the cases was electric shock when perched on unsafe power polls. In Sudan, a power line connecting Port Sudan with the shore of the Red Sea is notorious for causing the death of hundreds, and maybe thousands, Egyptian vultures since its installation in the fifties last century.
The work of BSPB began with research of the threat of electric shock for big birds of prey, after which environmentalists began long-term work with power distribution company EVN Bulgaria. Insulators were installed on power poles, and thus eliminated the threat of electrocution for the birds. It transpired later that the same birds faced this serious threat also at the places they migrated to – most often in Afrika.The BirdLife International UNDP/GEF Migratory Soaring Birds Project, implemented in partnership with the local Sudan Society for Wild Nature, decided to search for a solution to this problem. Thanks to the joint efforts, in 2014 Sudan Utility Company decommissioned the notorious power line and substituted a completely insulated and safe for the birds power line for it.
The good practice award is for high achievement in innovation, network development and improvement of existing practices in field work. The categories include “Environment protection”, “Stakeholders participation”, and other activities for development of the network. The major goal of the awards is “to inspire actions for future and innovative approaches.”
Renewables-Grid-Initiative (RGI) is established in 2009 and aims at promoting the integration of 100% renewably-generated electricity into the European grid. It is a coalition of power distribution companies and nonprofit organisations across Europe.
This is the second big European award for the joint work of BSPB and EVN Bulgaria for conservation of Imperial Eagle through making safe the power grid. In 2014 BSPB won Natura 2000 Award, which was presented by European Commission for the first time. After the success of the awarded project, since 2013 EVN Elektrorazpredelenie Bulgaria AD in partnership with BSPB has been working on a new project – “Life for Safe Grid”, funded again by European Commission’s LIFE+ programme.
BULGARIAN ENVIRONMENTALISTS PRESENTED GOOD PRACTICE AWARD BY RENEWABLE GRID INITIATIVE ASSOCIATION IN BRUSSELS
