Mannar wind-power project may be delayed due to impact on birds

The environmental impact assessment report for a proposed 34-turbine wind power plant to be built by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) at Mullikulam in Mannar has proposed a further one-year study to gauge the project’s impact on the area’s rich bird population, particularly migratory species.

The EIA was conducted by the Sri Lanka Programme for Forest Conservation for the CEB’s Project Division. One of the main negative impacts arising from wind farms is its impact on avifauna such as birds and bats leading to death and injury, it states.

“The effects of a wind farm on avifauna are highly variable and depend on a wide range of factors including the specification and layout of the turbines, the topography of the surrounding land, the habitats affected, and the number and density of

avifaunal species present in the area,” it points out. “Thus, the impact of wind farms on avifauna is site specific.”

The selected project site supports “a rich avifaunal assemblage comprising 83 species”--including 74 species that are listed as breeding residents. The remaining nine are winter visitors.

“However, it should be noted that the field investigations were carried out only within a brief period and flight patterns and occurrences of avifauna shows strong seasonal and diurnal patterns which can be elucidated only after studying the avifauna that use the habitat at least over a one-year period,” the EIA states. “Therefore, it is recommended that at least a one-year study is conducted to determine the type of avifauna present as well as their flight patterns in order to draw more informed conclusions.”

Mitigation measures needed to address critical impacts on birds should be identified based on the proposed one-year avifaunal assessment, the EIA holds.

“Other than this impact, the rest of the impacts such as loss of terrestrial and aquatic habitats, disturbance to wildlife habitats, habitat fragmentation, habitat degradation is not significant and can be managed through strict implementation of the Environmental Management Plan,” the EIA states.

The CEB proposes to develop the Mullikulam wind power plant under Phase III of the Mannar wind power project. The scope includes wind turbines, a collector network, transmission lines, rehabilitation of existing access roads and construction of new access roads.

Migrant birds reach Sri Lanka through several paths of entry. A major entry point is in the Mannar region, which thousands of birds use as a landing place before they disperse into other internal wintering sites.

“Similarly, when leaving the country at the end of the season, they use this region as their last staging point,” the EIA states. “The major entry point for migrants that enter through the North-Western region lies between Mannar and Vedithalaitivu where they are entering Sri Lanka using the passage north of the Mannar Island.

“The proposed site is not lying within this entry point,” it affirms. “However, the field investigations were conducted during the nonmigrant season and therefore, the use of the area by the migrant birds could not be fully ascertained.”