MC9 - Protection and Enhancement Program for Rupicolous Avifauna in the northeastern Portugal for Hydroelectric Development of Baixo Sabor (AHBS)
Baixo Sabor, Portugal
EDP - Gestão da Produção de Energia, SA
The Hydropower of Baixo Sabor (AHBS) covering the municipalities of the Alfândega da Fé, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Mogadouro and Torre de Moncorvo, comprises a main dam and respective reservoir and a second dam of small height (counter-dam) and respective reservoir, located downstream, which will serve to stabilize the turbine flow this step.
Thus, to comply with proposed in the EIS, some mandatory measures for conducting characterization studies and conservation plans for the species of interest for nature conservation were defined.
• At the Macro Regional Level: Literature search and survey populations of birds in northeastern rupicolous ( engaging extended AHBS ); Developing appropriate cartography, including locating nests and feeding areas, the appropriate scale (not less detailed than the scale 1:25 000 ); Checking for any connectivity between populations north of the Douro and Sabor; objective definition of compensation measures to implement the extended AHBS environment, in order to enhance the population of that area and offset the impact of the use target species named; Identification of indicators to assess the evolution of communities and enabling their monitoring and planning of other supportive interventions to achieve their aims; project, including maps and detailed specification of actions and interventions to be carried out so that each identified areas can be used as habitat clearing, identification and description of other interventions that may be necessary to minimize and offset impacts on birds and defining actions to achieve them; Preparation of Terms of Reference; Definition of priority actions and measures proposed; plan for monitoring and management of all proposed measures; technical Support in monitoring the implementation of the measures set, including travel to local intervention.
• At the Local Level: Update the location and use of nests identified in the zone to affect the AHBS and respective mapping to an appropriate scale (not less detailed than the 1:25000 scale); Planning of countervailing measures at the level of the surrounding populations of reservoirs of to create conditions for strengthening the food chain through general measures of protection and release hunting prey created in the Environmental Interpretation Centre and Animal Recovery ( CIARA ), with particular focus in the rabbit, pigeons and partridges; development proposals protection programs for birds of prey and carrion; Identification of indicators to assess the evolution of communities and enabling their monitoring and planning of other supportive interventions to goals; project, including maps and detailed specification of actions and interventions to be implemented, for each of the identified areas can fulfill their goals of mitigation and compensation; preparation of Terms of Reference for the implementation of the measures set program; structuring and preparation of awareness raising and environmental education directed to hunters, farmers and the general population towards the conservation of species and reducing threats; Definition of priority actions and measures to implement the program; plan for monitoring and management of all proposed measures; environmental awareness actions targeted at farmers and homeowners located in areas of relevance to rupicolous species and monitoring
