The need to serve growing populations in these areas combined with EDP?s concern for nature conservation culminated in the signing in 2003 of a cooperation agreement with Instituto de Conservação da Natureza (Nature Conservation Institute), Quercus and SPEA - Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Ave (Portuguese Bird Association) aimed at ensuring that new and existing lines were compatible with birdlife in classified nature protection areas (National Network of Protected Areas and Natura 2000 Network).
Birdlife agreement
The purpose of the agreement is to improve compatibility between overhead high- and medium-voltage electricity lines and the conservation of birds in Portugal and minimise the impacts on birdlife. It involved the following action:
> An overall characterisation of the impacts on birdlife of overhead high- and medium voltage electricity lines
> Identification and classification of lines and their supports on the basis of a birdlife hazard index, particularly in Special Protection Zones (SPZ) and Important Bird Areas (IBA)
> Phased introduction of corrective measures to be agreed upon for existing lines with an impact on birdlife on the basis of the results
> A series of technical solutions for the installation of future lines in order to prevent or reduce their impact on birds
> Monitoring of measures implemented under this agreement and in previous corrections