Assessment of Bird of Prey Mortality Caused by Electricity Power Lines in Mangistau Region, Kazakhstan

30 Sep 2014 Mangistau, Kazakhstan, Asia Birds | People

Fedor Sarayev

Project realization will minimize negative impact of power lines on birds of prey in Mangistau region: the most dangerous sections of the power lines grid would be identified for technical modification funded by the owners of the power lines.

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Mangistau region is a key habitat for some rare and endangered birds of prey. Many of these species are listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Mortality caused by electrocution on the power lines is the main limiting factor for birds of prey in the arid and semi-arid zones, such as Mangistau. At present, relevant data to assess negative impact of power lines on raptors in Mangistau region are scarce and fragmented, making it difficult to develop effective mitigation measures for raptors protection in the region and therefore determines the relevance of proposed project.

There will be three key outcomes of proposed project:

1. Survey field work along power lines will give us factual data. Based on survey data analysis, set of recommendations to minimize bird's mortality will be developed.

2. On the meetings with statutory environmental agencies and energy/electricity companies

technical modification of dangerous sections of the power lines grid will be agreed.

3. Preparation and distribution of informative poster on raptors interaction with power lines among energy/oil companies and local community will raise awareness about this problem among local community and stakeholders.

We are planning our activities from October 2014 to August 2015:

1. Reviewing and gap analysis of the regulatory framework of RoK on avian interactions with power lines (October 2014).

2. Analyzing of the current state of power lines in Mangistau region (length and other technical specs). Based on this information representative areas along power lines would be selected for the survey (October 2014).

3. Implementation of the survey along power lines grid (6-10kV) to record bird mortality caused by electrocution. Actual damage evaluation with extrapolation on entire territory of Mangistau region (October 2014 and April 2015).

4. Development of recommendations to reduce the effect of power lines on endangered raptors and interaction with the state environmental agency and the Government of Mangistau region to implement these recommendations. Relaying of the recommendations to the government of RoK, lobbying for measures to fix this problem (November 2014-May 2015).

5. Preparing and distribution of informative poster on raptors interaction with power lines among energy/oil companies and local community. Publishing and posting the project findings in scientific journals and media (June 2015- August 2015).

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