IUCN Experts To Provide Guidance For Biodiversity Monitoring At Ecowende’s Ecological Wind Farm

Under the agreement IUCN will establish an independent scientific advisory team to provide guidance to Ecowende on the implementation of best practices in terms of biodiversity monitoring. The team will also give advice to Ecowende in meeting its commitments on mitigating negative impact of the wind farm and, where possible, stimulating the positive impact on the North Sea ecology.

The so-called “Ecowende Biodiversity Advisory Team” will consist of scientists and experts with experience in marine ecology in the North Sea region. These scientists and experts will focus on migratory birds, bats, North Sea fish populations, marine mammals, and marine species found on the seabed (the benthic communities).

Assessment of the environmental impacts of offshore wind

Significant knowledge gaps exist in our global understanding of offshore wind’s effects on marine ecosystems, the effectiveness of certain mitigation measures, and the pursuit of net-positive impact in offshore wind projects. The establishment of an independent advisory team will aid in the broader evaluation of offshore wind’s environmental impact on ecology and facilitate the dissemination of knowledge.

A new ecological benchmark

Ecowende aims to establish a new ecological benchmark for developing and operating wind farms in the North Sea. The goal is to enable the construction of offshore wind farms in the future that have a net positive impact on nature. This is important, given the big ambitions for offshore wind. An acceleration in offshore wind development is needed in such a way that benefits nature both above and below the water.