A new report from the LIFE Aegypius Return project recommends that wind turbines be installed at least 7.7 kilometres away from Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) nests. Even so, this distance only safeguards the core range – the area where each individual spends around half of its time – for 50% of the juveniles, highlighting the risks that the expansion of wind energy poses for this endangered species.
Balancing energy transition and biodiversity protection
Renewable energy is a cornerstone of the much-needed energy transition and the fight against climate change. The Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF), all other partners of the projeto LIFE Aegypius Return project, as well as most environmental organisations support its development as a fundamental pillar of the decarbonisation of our society. However, its rapid expansion may pose serious challenges for the conservation of sensitive species, such as the Cinereous Vulture, if it is carried out without the necessary safeguards and controls.
The report “Spatial Guidelines for Safeguarding Cinereous Vulture Colonies from Wind Farm Expansion“, produced by the Vulture Conservation Foundation under the LIFE Aegypius Return project, presents clear data and practical recommendations to guide the planning of new wind farms, reducing risks for the Cinereous Vulture.
The research was based on the movements of 38 juvenile Cinereous Vultures tagged with a GPS/GSM transmitter in Portugal between 2018 and 2024. These are the main conclusions:
- Even in a scenario prioritising wind energy production, there must be a minimum distance of 7.7 km between turbines and the nearest nests, which safeguards only the core range of 50% of juveniles.
- The safest scenario for the birds requires an exclusion radius of 21.3 km, ensuring more robust protection during the critical dependency period of fledglings on their parents.
The proposed exclusion areas have been mapped for all known colonies in Portugal, providing the authorities and the energy sector with a practical tool for planning new wind farms in order to make their installation more compatible with the protection of the Cinereous Vulture.
The Cinereous Vulture, a sensitive species
The Cinereous Vulture is the largest bird of prey in Europe, classified as Endangered in Portugal and legally protected. Its ecology requires vast home ranges and an orography suited to soaring flight. The breeding season is particularly long: pairs begin reproduction in January, and chicks only leave the nest around August-September, remaining dependent on their parents for several more months.
During this dependency period, juveniles intensively explore the area around the colony, but still have very limited flying and foraging abilities. These factors make them particularly vulnerable to several threats, including collisions with wind turbines.
The mortality of juveniles has severe consequences for the species, as it reduces the reproductive success of colonies and may compromise their viability. The recruitment of new pairs and the expansion of a colony is a process that can take decades for a long-lived species with small, highly fragmented populations such as the Cinereous Vulture in Portugal.
It has been clearly demonstrated that the Cinereous Vulture is highly vulnerable to collisions with wind turbines. A study carried out in the Balkans showed that, even with careful planning of turbine locations and a very high avoidance rate (99%), the presence of 13 wind farms within the core breeding area resulted in an estimated annual mortality of 5 to 6 individuals. This represented around 5–11% of the local population, made up of 24 breeding pairs, and occurred almost exclusively within the core breeding zone – highlighting that the distance between turbines and nests is a determining factor in mortality risk.
Practical implications
A report represents a practical tool for sustainable energy planning. In Portugal, its recommendations are of immediate relevance, for example with regard to the recent Vidigueira/Portel colony, discovered in 2024. This colony is expanding and represents a strategic nucleus for the recovery of the species in Alentejo (southern Portugal), being the westernmost known colony for the species. It is also the only colony located away from the Spanish border, and is therefore absolutely essential for the potential recolonisation of other areas in the Portugal’s interior. However, the region is currently under strong pressure for the installation of new energy projects, including both wind and solar farms. Applying the exclusion distances proposed in the report is therefore crucial to prevent renewable energy investments from undermining decades of conservation efforts for the Cinereous Vulture (and other species) in the country.
The LIFE Aegypius Return project partners have been supporting authorities, promoters and consultants through technical meetings and by issuing opinions with detailed information on the evolution of the species and warning of potential risks. The project seeks to ensure that science and biodiversity conservation – particularly of the Cinereous Vulture – are integrated into decision-making processes, reducing conflicts and threats, and aligning the energy transition with broader environmental protection.
Naturally, the expansion of renewable energies is essential to tackle the climate crisis, but it will only be truly sustainable if it doesn’t aggravate another ongoing crisis: that of biodiversity loss.
About LIFE Aegypius Return
O projeto LIFE Aegypius Return é cofinanciado pelo programa LIFE da União Europeia.O seu sucesso depende do envolvimento de todos os stakeholders relevantes, e da colaboração dos parceiros: a stakeholders, and the collaboration of the partners: the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF)beneficiário coordenador, e os parceiros locais Palombar – Conservação da Natureza e do Património Rural, Herdade da Contenda, Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves, Liga para a Protecção da Natureza, Associação Transumância e Natureza, Fundación Naturaleza y Hombre, Guarda Nacional Republicana e Associação Nacional de Proprietários Rurais Gestão Cinegética e Biodiversidade.
