Project name: Bat and Bird Collision Risk Study for Vrataruša II Wind Farm – Basis for EIA and AA (Phases 1 & 2)
Client: Selan Ltd.
Period: 01/2022 – 1/2025
Location: Croatia
The planned wind farm, WF Vrataruša II, with a total capacity of 24 MW, is located in the area of the existing wind farm Vrataruša I in the City of Senj, in Lika-Senj County.
Field activities for bat fauna research in the area of the planned WF Vrataruša II were conducted from May to November 2022 and from March to October 2023.
During 2022, the following activities were performed:
- field reconnaissance
- continuous bat call recording at stationary points from July to October.
During 2023, the following activities were performed:
- field reconnaissance
- periodic bat call recording along a transect route from April to October
- continuous bat call recording at stationary points from March to July
- mission report preparation
- data processing and analysis.
The bat fauna was surveyed by recording bat calls at stationary points and along a transect route to assess bat species composition and activity levels. Habitats of high importance for bats (water sources) were recorded. Bat call recordings were analysed using BatExplorer software and relevant literature. Bat activity was analysed temporally and spatially in a GIS environment.
The calculation of the collision risk for birds to prepare the Environmental Impact Study and the Main Assessment of the Impact of the Project on the Ecological Network for the Vrataruša II Wind Farm was carried out in the period from September to December 2023. It included the following activities:
- processing of existing data collected during previous research
- calculation of the collision risk for sensitive and strictly protected bird species and target species of the ecological network area within which the project is located
- report preparation
- quality control of the calculation carried out by Waardenburg Ecology.
The Environmental Impact Study with Appropriate Assessment provides information on the current state of the environment, potentially significant impacts on the environment, proposal of environmental protection measures and environmental monitoring program. The EIS included:
- Technical description of the project,
- Information on the location and description of the location of the project,
- Assessment of the potential significant impacts on the environmental components,
- Proposal of mitigation measures and environmental monitoring program,
- Appropriate Assessment (Nature Impact Assessment on Natura 2000) – analysis of impact and mitigation measures for Natura 2000 conservation objectives (Special Protected Areas, Sites of Community Interests) and the proposed mitigation measures.
The Environmental Impact Assessment procedure includes amendments to the Study according to the opinion of the Expert Advisory Committee, public consultation and meetings with all participants in the process.
Implementation of this Project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals:
