At Iberdrola, we are committed to protecting and acting for nature, and we are strengthening our commitment with the launch of our 2030 Biodiversity Plan [PDF]. This Plan establishes the mechanisms to achieve the ambitious goal of having a net positive impact on biodiversity by 2030 and to drive the transformation towards an energy model in harmony with nature and human beings.
Iberdrola is a driver of change for nature with its Biodiversity Plan 2030.
We tell you how Iberdrola promotes renewable energy integrated into its natural environment.
Iberdrola will have a net positive impact on biodiversity by 2030. This goal is based on the application of the conservation hierarchy principle throughout the life cycle of its facilities and the implementation of mechanisms to identify, quantify, and monitor compliance therewith.
Biodiversity plan 2030
Iberdrola interacts with different ecosystems and species over a large geographical area. Aware of the urgent need for action to halt and reverse the unprecedented loss of biodiversity called for by the scientific community, Iberdrola reinforces its commitment to protecting and acting for biodiversity and nature with this Biodiversity Plan 2030, which applies to the entire Iberdrola group.
This Plan establishes the mechanisms to achieve the ambitious objective of having a positive net impact on biodiversity in 2030 and promote the transformation towards an energy model in harmony with nature and human beings. The Plan addresses the impacts on ecosystems and species of the group's activities throughout the Life Cycle, considering the supply chain and creating economic and social value through ecosystem services and creating economic and social value through ecosystem services.
The starting point for this Plan is the approval in 2007 of Iberdrola's Biodiversity Policy, which forms part of its Iberdrola Governance and Sustainability System. In 2021, Iberdrola, as part of the annual review process of its policies, substantially modified this Biodiversity Policy to incorporate the new ambition. The Plan therefore builds on years of work in integrating consideration of biodiversity into strategic planning and decision-making.
Commitment to no deforestation
Iberdrola is committed to ensuring that its activities generate no net deforestation by 2025. This commitment applies both to direct actions and to the supply chain. The commitments and procedures derived from this Plan, application of the conservation hierarchy, equal impact compensation, application of nature-based solutions, and involvement of the supply chain, among others, provide the appropriate tools to ensure the achievement of this commitment.
The plan: measure, act and transform
Iberdrola addresses the challenge of having a net positive impact on biodiversity with three lines of action:
Measure: We improve our measurement standards
In this Plan, Iberdrola goes a step further and establishes a new net balance accounting framework for biodiversity. This accounting framework, applicable to all facilities, makes it possible to quantify the positive and negative impacts on ecosystems and species arising from the construction, operation, and decommissioning of its facilities and to consolidate the impacts at the facility, business, and group levels. This will allow Iberdrola to know the degree of compliance with its goal at the global level and to review the biodiversity action plans accordingly. a nivel instalación, negocio y grupo. Esto permitirá a Iberdrola conocer el grado de cumplimiento de su objetivo a nivel global y revisar los planes de acción de biodiversidad acordemente.
This accounting framework is based on the Biodiversity Protocol for the determination of the net balance in ecosystems and species. Iberdrola also calculates the loss of biodiversity through the Mean Species Abundance - MSA metric (B-INTACT Tool, FAO).
On the other hand, we continue to improve the measurement of impacts in the value chain by calculating our Corporate Environmental Footprint, which takes into account the life cycle of our activities.
We also continue to work on identifying risks and opportunities from our activities, applying the Natural Capital Protocol and following TNFD's four-phase LEAP approach: (i) Locate interaction, (ii) Assess impacts and dependencies, (iii) Assess risks and opportunities to natural capital and ecosystem services, and (iv) Prepare response to those risks and opportunities.
Act: We reinforce our actions
By 2025, 100% of priority installations will be assessed and have revised the biodiversity action plans and by 2030, 100% of installations will have revised biodiversity action plans.
We strengthen our action plans by implementing the necessary actions to have a net positive impact by applying the mitigation and conservation hierarchy in all phases of the life cycle of our facilities and their processes.
In addition, it will seek to establish conservation objectives that will be of relevance in the decision making and design of new developments.
Applying the principles of the conservation hierarchy: Avoid, Reduce, Restore and Regenerate
Los Planes de Acción de Biodiversidad abarcarán todo el ciclo de vida de las instalaciones y aplicarán acciones para aplicar la jerarquía de conservación que incluyen las siguientes:
Avoid
Avoid locating new infrastructure projects in areas protected for their ecological, biological, cultural and/or landscape value or areas of high biodiversity value. Protected areas include World Heritage areas, national protections and the respective IUCN protected area categories. If for reasons of force majeure action is necessary, the conservation hierarchy and net positive impact compliance will apply.
Improve prior studies of the knowledge of the environment and the possible effects of our activities on endangered species of flora and fauna and protected habitats.
Promote technological solutions that minimise land use change.
Avoid supply chain impacts of its activities.
Reduce
Develop specific plans to minimise the impact on species due to electrocution and collision on overhead lines and wind farms.
Maintain ecological flow downstream of reservoirs.
Strengthen monitoring plans for flora and fauna, especially for protected or vulnerable species, so that the interaction of infrastructures with the environment can be continuously assessed;
Continue action programmes for the prevention of water and soil pollution at all facilities.
Establish plans for the identification and management of invasive species that pose a risk to ecosystems and species at sites where the Group operates.
Involve the supply chain in the Group's objectives, reducing indirect impacts on biodiversity.
Restore and regenerate
Restore and compensate for residual impacts on habitats and endangered species ., with the same type of habitat and species affected.
Establishment of specific actions against deforestation.
Promote the creation of ecological corridors in suitable facilities.
Identify and promote protected areas under private management models.
Establishment of environmental improvement plans.
Applying Nature-based solutions:
The solutions lie in nature, which is why Iberdrola promotes actions based on the conservation and improvement of ecosystems to respond to the challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change.
Iberdrola is committed to driving transformation by supporting action for nature and contributing through innovation and the transmission of knowledge to the cultural change necessary to live in harmony with nature.
Given the scale of the challenge, systemic change is needed. This transformation can only be achieved through action for biodiversity and the creation of natural value for stakeholders.
Action for biodiversity
At Iberdrola, we are committed to being a driver of change and to assuming a position of leadership in action for nature, integrating biodiversity into the Group's internal strategic planning and decision-making processes. In this regard, Iberdrola works in:
Supporting action for biodiversity and nature in international negotiation processes such as the agreements of the Biodiversity Conventions of the Parties, the UN Oceans Conferences, implementation of national and supranational Biodiversity Strategies.
Collaborating with private sector representative bodies such as Business for Nature, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), World Economic Forum (WEF), UN Global Compact, etc., as well as with the scientific community, such as the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
Contributing to the transformation of the energy sector and society as a whole to achieve an economic and energy model in harmony with nature and mankind.
Creating Social Value
Transformation can only be achieved through collaboration and innovation. Therefore, we will intensify and open the following lines of work:
Social awareness. Reinforcing and encouraging projects and programmes that promote social awareness with stakeholder awareness campaigns, employee training plans, volunteer actions, etc.
Value chain. Continue to support our suppliers with supply chain traction actions.
R&D&I. Promote research and innovation of solutions on the interaction with biodiversity, its conservation, restoration and regeneration.
Ecosystem services. Making available to stakeholders the sustainable use of ecosystem services in the environments where we operate, with special emphasis on cultural services.
Partnerships and stakeholder engagement: Collaborating and participating in initiatives that establish and promote best practices and knowledge transfer, ensuring the consideration and participation of stakeholders, indigenous peoples and local communities in decision-making throughout the life cycle of the facilities.
Communication and transparency: We will continue to report transparently through different media, such as the Group's Biodiversity Report.
The Biodiversity Plan will cover 100 % of our facilities, which will be evaluated and have a revised action plan in 2030. In addition, for priority facilities the target will be covered by 2025:
2020Diagnosis and mapping of evaluation methodologies
2020-2021Definition of Biodiversity Accounting Framework
2021-2022Testing at Iberdrola facilities in Spain, the United Kingdom, Brazil, the United States and Mexico
2025100 % of the priority facilities are evaluated and have a revised Biodiversity action plan
2030100 % of the facilities are evaluated and have a revised Biodiversity action plan
Our vision is to build an energy model in harmony with nature and human being
The 2030 Biodiversity Plan is part of the roadmap adopted by the company to be positive towards nature. This roadmap includes, in addition to this Biodiversity Plan, the Climate Action Plan and the Circular Economy Model. This roadmap is integrated into the company's environmental management, thus addressing our interaction with the five main drivers of biodiversity loss identified by IPBES in its latest report: land and sea use changes, direct overexploitation of species, climate change, pollution and the spread of invasive species.
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What is biodiversity and why is so important?
Biodiversity — also known as biological diversity — refers to the huge variety of living beings that inhabit our planet. This also includes the various land and underwater ecosystems, and the interactions that take place between different species.
It plays a crucial role in the composition and functioning of every ecosystem and their cycles: the water cycle, the food chain, the soil cycle. What's more, keeping a good biological balance helps to stabilise the climate and reduce contamination. For us humans, it ensures we get food, access to raw materials and clean water. It prevents us from suffering natural disasters and also provides energy security.
Biodiversity and sustainable development
Fostering economic and social development, respect for the environment and promoting global biodiversity are Iberdrola's priority corporate values, which are totally in line with Sustainable Development Goals six, thirteen, fourteen and fifteen. Iberdrola group manifests its commitment to safeguarding and promoting the biodiversity of ecosystems according to the action principles set out in its Biodiversity Policy.
Integrating biodiversity conservation into the Group's strategy and in decisions on infrastructure projects.
Applying the mitigation hierarchy and avoiding placing new infrastructure in protected areas and those with high biodiversity value.
Integrating biodiversity into the group's environmental management systems (EMS).
Participating in research, conservation, education and awareness-raising projects.
Providing information on the group's activities relating to biodiversity.
Iberdrola supports knowledge and research by collaborating with stakeholders and taking part in a range of studies to understand the behaviour of species and habitats in the countries where it operates. Among these are the Coralizar1 project, which studies the effects of climate change on coral reefs, the Flyways project, which tracks 22 species of gulls and migratory birds, as well as the continuation of the "Bird Migration" project, the main purpose of which is to study the migratory habits of birds found in Spain.
1Project by the Neoenergia Institute and the World Wide Fund Nature - WWF Brazil.
It also encourages the conservation of habitats and species, such as the work to protect wild cats in the Mexican mangroves and contributes to research that will lead to a better understanding and management of natural assets. Examples of these are the ES Values Project in collaboration with the University of Salamanca and the Energy and Natural Capital Working Group of the Natural Capital Factory. It is also worth mentioning the implementation project of the Life Institute's methodology taking place at the hydroelectric facilities in Brazil, which will evaluate the performance of biodiversity protection and conservation initiatives.
The company also helps to produce the Practical Guide to Ecological Restoration in collaboration with the Biodiversity Foundation's Business and Biodiversity Initiative. This guide is a methodological tool aimed at helping decision makers to foster ecological restoration in activities in order to strengthen and recover natural assets and fight against biodiversity loss.
In Spain, Iberdrola has set aside €40 million over to protect plant life between 2018 and 2019. The company is undertaking an adaptation programme for electricity power lines to avoid electrocutions and protect birds. In total, more than 2,700 maintenance activities and power cable renewals have been carried out to reduce all types of risks on the installations. Almost 30,000 kilometres of power lines have been checked.
Of particular note among the biodiversity activities in renewable energy is the environmental protection plan in place for the Núñez de Balboa Photovoltaic Plant in Extremadura. Also, the installation of 162 hives at the plant in Andévalo, in Huelva, and 105 in Núñez de Balboa, an initiative to be extended to some of the company's other photovoltaic plants in Spain, will show how encouraging insect pollinators at renewable generation facilities close to farmland can improve crop yield and contribute to the circular economy.
In Europe the Tâmega hydro-electric complex in Portugal has also involved detailed and specific studies of fauna and flora. Among other actions, 1,000 sampling stations have been created and various species have been monitored for over 80,000 hours.
In the UK, at the East Anglia ONE offshore wind farm, a 'Specific Marine Mammal Mitigation Protocol' (MMP) was produced prior to commencement of work.
In addition in Brazil, at the Baixo Iguaçu hydroelectric power plant, a biodiversity corridor is being created that will connect forest areas and permanent conservation areas in the protected zones of the Iguazú National Park.
In California, at the Manzana wind farm, most of the condors in the State have been fitted with radio devices and GPS to monitor their movements.
Furthermore in Mexico, activities are in progress to conserve and protect the Fernández Canyon, one of the most important reserves in the north of the country.
CONVIVE Programme
Iberdrola has fully integrated socioeconomic development and biodiversity conservation into its decarbonisation strategy, demonstrating that it is possible to effectively combine the supply of clean and sustainable energy. And thus, maintain the balance of the environment while contributing to social and economic development.
This is why the CONVIVE Programme was born, a continuous improvement programme that integrates all the initiatives and alliances we are carrying out in this area.
Main areas of action:
Contributing to socio-economic development.
Protecting and improving biodiversity.
Learning from experts.
Business for Nature's Call to Action
Iberdrola has joined the initiative Call to Action promoted by the Business for Nature platform External link, opens in new window. to urge governments to act now to reverse biodiversity loss in this decade. The declaration, which was adopted on 21 September 2020 to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, was presented at the UN Biodiversity Summit on 30 September and has the backing of more than 560 companies from 54 countries with a combined turnover of US$4 trillion and that employ 9.5 million people across all sectors. This is the first time that so many companies have come together with the aim of influencing decisions to be made in this area after the completion of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 [PDF] External link, opens in new window..
The manifesto states that "healthy societies, resilient economies and thriving businesses rely on nature", and that governments need to act with "courage and urgency" and formulate policies that put nature front and centre. Only in this way will it be possible to achieve the climate objective of reducing the increase in the average temperature of the planet below 1.5 ºC set by the Paris Agreement and prevent a catastrophic loss of biodiversity.
Biodiversity Pact
By signing this Pact, Iberdrola underlines its commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. The Pact [PDF] External link, opens in new window. is sponsored by the Spanish Business and Biodiversity Initiative, created by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Magrama) and the Biodiversity Foundation, of which Iberdrola is also a member.
Iberdrola is a member of the European Initiative from the EU Business @ Biodiversity Platform.
ALETEO project
Iberdrola, through its Distribution subsidiary i-DE External link, opens in new window., will invest around 200 million euros to adapt and correct some 234,000 electrical supports in order to minimise the impact of overhead lines on birdlife.ALETEO project [PDF] External link, opens in new window., as it is called, will be carried out in Spain between 2018 and 2025 and will affect one third of the supports the company has installed in the nine autonomous communities where it operates (Madrid, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, the Valencian Region, Castilla y León, La Rioja, Navarre, the Basque Country, Murcia Region and Cantabria).
Priority will be given to modifying the pylons in Spain's Special Bird Protection Areas (ZEPAS), although those located in protection zones established by the Autonomous Communities themselves will also be adapted.
The improvements to be made to the power lines will consist of covering the different phases and connections on the supports, increasing the safety distance — changing the insulators to lengthen the chain or installing other long rod type ones —, replacing the crossarms with others specially designed to protect the birds and installing anti-nesting devices, among other measures.
Over the next two years, the company expects to adapt 25,000 supports on distribution lines to protect birds from electrocution. So far, 4,127 have already been adapted, and a further 6,659 and being processed for adaptation.
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MIGRA programme:
This ambitious project, under way since 2011, and developed by Fundación Iberdrola España conjunction with SEO/BirdLife, is a result of Iberdrola's commitment to achieving bird-friendly energy and Spanish biodiversity.
The programme aims to preserve Spanish birdlife by expanding knowledge of bird migratory and bird breeding habits through the latest geolocation and remote-monitoring technologies. Different species have been equipped with GPS devices to gather the details about their migratory trips, the duration, what route they follow, at what speed and altitude they fly, where they rest and feed and if the routes are the same year after year, which make it possible for all of us to see their movements www.migraciondeaves.org External link, opens in new window.. In addition, they help us anticipate any possible threats that could endanger them, while providing fundamental information to prepare relevant scientific studies.
The MIGRA programme currently has 1,223 birds of 34 different species tagged — useful information has been gathered from 745 birds of 33 different species —, building up a database of millions of locations thanks to the work of over 350 collaborators and 60 collaborating entities from Spain and abroad.
The Migra programme has revealed that booted eagles and black kites spend winter in the Sahel or that the white stork has changed its migratory patterns due to the global changes caused by mankind. We also know that the European roller spends winters in Namibia and Botswana, over 9,000 kilometres away from its nesting grounds, and its migratory path varies from one population to another.
A recent study has revealed that the common swift, one of the most mobile land birds in the world, has a unique migration pattern, called "chain" migration, as opposed to the usual "leap-frog" migration. In the leap-frog pattern, northern populations winter further south, so that they migrate farther than southern populations. In contrast, in "chain" migration, the different populations migrate the same distance, to consecutive wintering areas. This pattern had only been observed previously in two other species: the sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus) and the northern gannet (Morus bassanus). Southern European swifts are also larger, have more chicks and start their migration earlier, so that they reach the best wintering areas.
The black kite External link, opens in new window. is the target species of the MIGRA Programme in 2021. This migratory bird of prey — one of the raptors with the widest worldwide distribution — crosses the Sahara to spend the winter in the African Sahel, but much remains unknown about its migration and wintering grounds. In the spring-summer of this year, 18 specimens are being marked with GPS transmitters to find out more about their migratory routes and how climate change is affecting the species.
Black kite.
Fundación Iberdrola España and SEO/Birdlife have launched an agricultural steppe bird protection campaign in Extremadura External link, opens in new window.. For the second year running, nesting areas have been identified, birds have been marked and other activities have taken place to reduce the impact of agriculture on colonies of species including the Bustard, the Little Bustard and the Hen Harrier.
The campaign focuses on nine major areas and covers 450,000 hectares. The project aims to monitor these birds' breeding areas and find nests endangered by farming activities at crucial times of the year.
The species to receive help from the MIGRA program during 2020 were the Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) External link, opens in new window. and the Red Kite External link, opens in new window. (Milvus Milvus). The first is a medium-sized bird of prey whose numbers have plummeted by 50 % in the last decade. Knowing where these birds are at each moment of the year and understanding their spatial ecology is essential if they are to survive in the future. That is why SEO/Birdlife experts marked 22 hen harriers throughout the last year. The GPS-GSM devices used weigh less than ten grams and are fitted backpack style on the bird's back. They measure GPS coordinates every five minutes and send them via the GSM mobile telephone network.
Hen Harrier.
The Spanish population of the Red Kite is also in danger of extinction. It was thought that they were settled colonies and therefore that the parent birds remained in their territories, but it has been observed that many Red Kites migrate short or moderate distances to other wintering areas or undertake other journeys during the winter.
In 2019, the program focused on Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus) External link, opens in new window., a migratory bird classified as vulnerable in Spain's National Catalogue of Endangered Species. We know that the Spanish populations of these endangered birds of prey winter in the African Sahel, but this is the first time they have been tracked with high-resolution GPS systems to follow their movements and migratory paths, feeding areas in Spain, wintering areas in Africa and resting places during migration.
In 2018, ten adults were marked in Andalucía, Castilla y León, Cataluña and Galicia. In spring 2019, an additional 13 hen harriers were included in Albacete, Cáceres, Huelva, Madrid, Palencia, Salamanca and Segovia. Using this method, more than 250,000 locations were obtained to analyse whether the cause of their decline is found in these areas with a view to finding solutions.
As part of MIGRA, 80 lesser kestrels have also been tagged throughout Spain. In the Community of Madrid, four peregrine falcons — a species considered vulnerable in the Catalogue of Endangered Species of this region — as well as 41 Swifts in the municipality of Nuevo Baztán, Madrid.
Nano-GPS trackers were attached to the lesser kestrels' backs to track their migratory habits.
Monographs
Five monographs were prepared under the MIGRA program, in collaboration with Fundación Iberdrola España:
Migration and Spatial Ecology of the White Stork in Spain External link, opens in new window.. Published in February 2020, this is a comprehensive work that compiles the results obtained from 79 birds tagged with remote monitoring devices in Spain and Central Europe between 2012 and 2017. The study, which reveals the movements of the white stork throughout the annual cycle, has shown a clear change in the migration strategy of these birds in Western Europe. In fact, white storks have proven to be the ideal model to demonstrate that changes caused by humans on a global level (production of large amounts of waste, large expanses dedicated to irrigated crops, etc.) are causing profound changes to the environment and how species behave.
White stork.
Migration and Spatial Ecology of Bulwer's petrel in Spain External link, opens in new window.. Bulwer's petrel is a small seabird that breeds in the Canary Islands and is classed as endangered. Therefore, understanding the current distribution of these populations makes it possible to model the effect of global warming on the distribution of this species, among other advantages. To prepare this monograph, which was presented in November 2019, the migratory journeys of 105 birds equipped with geolocators were studied and GPS devices were fitted during breeding, enabling 59 complete feeding journeys to be recorded.
Bulwer's Petrel.
Migration and spatial ecology of Spain's Cory's shearwater population External link, opens in new window., conducted by tagging 460 birds in 13 breeding colonies in different Spanish regions: Balearic Islands, Castellón, Murcia, Almería, Chafarinas Islands, Atlantic Islands of Galicia and several of the Canary Islands. The size of the positioning database, with 1,017,029 locations, made this work the most ambitious to date to address the ecology of Spanish species movement by using new generation remote tracking devices.
Migration and spatial ecology of the Audouin's Gull [PDF] External link, opens in new window.. Audouin's Gull External link, opens in new window. is an endemic Mediterranean species with a relatively small population 90 % of which gather in Spain during the breeding season. To conduct the study, a total of 221,931 spatial locations of more than 15,500 individual birds were analysed. The resulting 100 pages show the movements, phenology and spatial ecology of Audouin's gull at breeding grounds, on migratory routes and in wintering areas. The study also reveals15 areas of great value for the species on the African coasts that deserve to be identified as Important Bird Areas (IBA).
Audouin's Gull.
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Study on the impact of climate change on bearded vultures:
Iberdrola — through Fundación Iberdrola — and the Bearded Vulture Conservation Foundation (FCQ) have presented the results of the Study on the Effects of Climate Change on the Bearded Vulture Population in the Central Pyrenees. The study reveals the presence of more than 800 mosquitoes, black flies and midges carrying avian malaria, a disease more dangerous for birds than initially thought.
The bearded vulture is at serious risk of extinction in Europe.
These insect vectors, accustomed to warmer habitats, were previously unknown in the cold, mountainous ecosystem of the Central Pyrenees. But the increase in temperature caused by climate change means they are now found in bearded vulture nesting areas. This demonstrates the risk that the bearded vulture, an endangered species in the EU, is being exposed to the disease.
The study has detected avian malaria in the Central Pyrenees, the bearded vulture's habitat.
This parasitic disease has caused dramatic reductions in species as widespread and common as the house sparrow(Passer domesticus) and its expansion into new regions, such as Hawaii and New Zealand, has had devastating effects on previously unexposed domestic populations. It has now been found that the disease has also had a severe impact on species that have previously coexisted with the parasite. For example, it has been implicated in the 75% decline in London's sparrow population.
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LIFE+ Cantabrian Capercaillie Project:
The programme for the conservation of this emblematic and endemic species in danger of extinction in the Cantabrian Mountain Range has involved active work between 2010 and 2016 with the two-fold objective of halting its decline and fostering its recovery.
At the start of the project, it was estimated that only some 400 specimens remained between Asturias, León and Cantabria. To contribute to the recovery of this species, the European LIFE+ Cantabrian Capercaillie Project External link, opens in new window., coordinated by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishing, Food and the Environment, with the support of Fundación Iberdrola España External link, opens in new window. and the Autonomous National Parks Organisation, a series of urgent conservation, social participation, awareness raising and dissemination actions have been carried out.
Cantabrian Capercaillie.
Some of the main actions carried out since 2010 han include:
Forestry treatments in over 500 hectares to improve the Capercaillie's habitat.
Removal or marking of 60 km of dangerous fences to eliminate the risk of electrocution.
Control and monitoring of the deer population, due to its direct effect on the availability of food for the Capercaillie.
Breeding in captivity programme as a complementary measure to the management of the habitat and re-introduction of Capercaillies into the wild.
19 land custody projects thanks to 29 voluntary agreements between owners, non-profit organisations and other public and private agents.
Environmental awareness-raising and educational activities, with school workshops, in which 2,000 students have participated.
This project has laid the foundations for the future conservation of the species, based on the experience and technical know-how acquired during the execution of the different actions.
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All the information about
Biodiversity
What biodiversity protection plans are in place?
Iberdrola first established its biodiversity action plan many years ago. This strategic plan is motivated by four principles of behaviour, defined in its biodiversity policy: to protect, understand and conserve biodiversity and to raise awareness and inform stakeholders. In the various operational units, this strategic action plan is translated into action lines and work programmes such as the protection of fauna and flora or pollution reduction.
Do you know the real importance of forests in our ecosystem?
The importance of forests to our planet is undeniable. They are vital ecosystems for protecting the world's biodiversity. In order to achieve sustainable development, they must be looked after in the knowledge that they are finite and essential to life. Without them, there would be no drinking water, no clean air, nor much of the necessary food. Furthermore, the importance of primary forests is not only because of the source of oxygen they provide but also because they mitigate climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and therefore reducing the greenhouse effect.
What is Iberdrola's biodiversity policy?
The development of the group's businesses inevitably produces interactions with various ecosystems. That is why we are committed to the protection of biodiversity and environmental conservation. We promote a social culture aimed at raising the awareness of all stakeholders, identifying specific actions that help to conserve natural environments and act against the loss of biodiversity in favour of living beings and the conservation of species.
What is the importance of biodiversity for the conservation of life?
Biodiversity has a great influence on the conservation of living beings. If we do not take the importance of biodiversity into consideration, acting with a focus on sustainability and respecting the rules of environmental conservation, we will be acting against the interests of human beings. Because the loss of biodiversity has a direct impact on our food security, on vulnerability to natural disasters, on access to clean water, and on the extinction of species.
Overexploitation of biological resources and its negative effect on biodiversity
Human impact is a direct cause of loss of biodiversity. Not knowing how to manage resources, ignoring that they are finite, brings with it the depletion of natural resources. Constant human activity and the undeniable overexploitation of resources at a higher speed than their natural regeneration makes life difficult and brings with it the loss of biodiversity. Deforestation and overfishing are clear examples of this.
Here we explain overexploitation and its consequences for natural resources.
Which animals are in danger of extinction?
Global biodiversity is suffering an unprecedented decline. More than one million species are in danger of extinction and may disappear within decades, according to a report issued by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). The report identifies which animals are in danger of extinction due to climate change (which will be responsible for five per cent of these losses if the temperature increases by two degrees). The natural habitats of these animals are under threat from global warming, and the risk of extinction is increasing. Among the most severely endangered species are Madagascar crickets and millipedes, the African antelope and the snow leopard. However, climate change is not the only thing threatening biodiversity. Soil depletion, pollution and the over exploitation of species are as big a threat to their survival than climate change, if not more so.
How can we handle the conservation of the environment and the sustainability of the system?
Biodiversity and its conservation are irremediably conditioned by human interference in the environment. In order not to generate environmental problems that result in the loss of biodiversity, it is necessary to carry out conservation measures and know how to implement them. Conservation is a basic principle in the environmental policy of the Iberdrola group, and it is committed to the biodiversity of the ecosystems, landscapes, and species where it carries out its activity.
In addition, environmental conservation will be helped by small actions that each one of us can carry out in our daily lives: using reused products, turning off taps properly, using public transport, separating rubbish, or consuming ecological products.
What is the importance of protecting and conserving biodiversity?
Protecting biodiversity and ecosystems means protecting ourselves as a species, because we depend on them for our own survival. Forests reduce global warming and end water pollution. Biodiversity helps to pollinate flowers and crops, among other things. We get food and medicine from nature, and micro-organisms help us with soil fertilisation. The benefits that biological diversity provides to all living beings are innumerable, and that is why we have to take care of the interactions in the ecosystems and have clear environmental conservation areas. Our duty as a species is to encourage ecological transition, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency, and with it, the survival of the earth's flora and fauna.
Biodiversity and its conservation must be a sure bet for the future
Opting for the conservation of the earth means opting for the conservation of biodiversity. Biological diversity safeguards the functioning of vital cycles of water, nutrients and soil. So we have to minimise the impact of human beings on the environment in order to guarantee food security and access to clean water and different raw materials, among other things. It is also a chance to prevent natural disasters. Therefore, when it comes to action policies, among the objectives for development, particular emphasis must be placed on the conservation of biological diversity, and on ensuring the protection of environmental conservation areas.
How does climate change affect biodiversity?
Climate change is one of the direct causes of loss of biodiversity. Global warming and global climate change mean that many animal and plant species are not adapting to the situation and are abandoning their reference habitats in the face of drought, rainfall and extreme weather events. Many of the animals suffering from climate change will be driven to extinction as they are unable to adapt to the effects of the change. That is why conservation policies are so important to look after species and ecosystems.
What does environmental management mean?
Environmental management is the strategy that various organizations use to minimize the impact of their activities on the environment and nature. It involves seeking a balance between geo-economic interests and environmental conservation. There are different approaches to management control,depending on the scope. These include preventing future environmental conflicts, correcting existing environmental problems, and reversing environmental damage caused in the past.
What is a protected area?
Protected areas are extensions of land or sea that are protected so that they don't lose their biodiversity, geodiversity and natural and cultural resources. The aim is to contain natural ecosystems that are threatened or of special ecological, educational or scientific interest, among others. They are usually recognised as natural heritage, and their biological diversity and species' habitats are protected and looked after.
According to the map of protected areas, the Iberdrola group selects the location of new infrastructure, avoiding protected areas or those with a high impact on biodiversity.
What are the principles of conservation of biodiversity?
The Iberdrola group undertakes different actions to conserve biodiversity in the different ecosystems in which it carries out its activities. These principles include integrating environmental conservation into decision-making at the various stages of their infrastructure projects; applying a precautionary approach to environmental conservation; compensating for the impact produced and restoring natural capital; and protecting species and habitats through positive conservation and research.
What are the basic principles of environmental management?
The Iberdrola group undertakes different actions to conserve biodiversity in the different ecosystems in which it carries out its activities. These principles include integrating environmental conservation into decision-making at the various stages of their infrastructure projects; applying a precautionary approach to environmental conservation; compensating for the impact produced and restoring natural capital; and protecting species and habitats through positive conservation and research.
How can we manage energy efficiency and environmental sustainability?
Achieving energy efficiency and promoting environmental sustainability can be achieved by responsible energy use and advocating efficient technologies that reduce energy consumption. At Iberdrola we encourage responsible energy use and pay special attention to optimising our entire energy chain (production, transport and distribution). We never lose sight of our goal of protecting biodiversity and ecosystems.
However, small actions also count, and any household can achieve its own energy efficiency and sustainability, with the aim of protecting biodiversity on a small scale and fighting climate change. Commitment to renewable energies, efficient technologies and simple rules for private energy use.
How can the GHG protocol impact in biodiversity conservation?
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol provides a standardized way to calculate and account greenhouse gas emissions. Its use allows to compare the results between different organizations all over time to better knowing if reductions of emissions have taken place, and to evaluate climatic benefits. Knowing the indices and protocol standards helps to guide policies for combating climate change and looking after and promoting biodiversity.
SEE INFOGRAPHIC: Timeframe implementation of the plan [PDF]
Integrating biodiversity conservation into the Group's strategy and in decisions on infrastructure projects.
Applying the mitigation hierarchy and avoiding placing new infrastructure in protected areas and those with high biodiversity value.
Integrating biodiversity into the group's environmental management systems (EMS).
Participating in research, conservation, education and awareness-raising projects.
Providing information on the group's activities relating to biodiversity.
External link, opens in new window. to urge governments to act now to reverse biodiversity loss in this decade. The declaration, which was adopted on 21 September 2020 to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, was presented at the UN Biodiversity Summit on 30 September and has the backing of more than 560 companies from 54 countries with a combined turnover of US$4 trillion and that employ 9.5 million people across all sectors. This is the first time that so many companies have come together with the aim of influencing decisions to be made in this area after the completion of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 [PDF] External link, opens in new window..
External link, opens in new window., will invest around 200 million euros to adapt and correct some 234,000 electrical supports in order to minimise the impact of overhead lines on birdlife. ALETEO project [PDF] External link, opens in new window., as it is called, will be carried out in Spain between 2018 and 2025 and will affect one third of the supports the company has installed in the nine autonomous communities where it operates (Madrid, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, the Valencian Region, Castilla y León, La Rioja, Navarre, the Basque Country, Murcia Region and Cantabria).
