WindEurope has called for a new EU biodiversity strategy that proposes protected areas across swathes of Europe that do not create new restrictions on wind energy.
The trade association said that transforming Europe’s energy system needed to “go together” with developing a “sound biodiversity strategy” and called for wind developments to be allowed to continue in and around Natura 2000 protected sites.
It also called for the European Commission to “give clear guidance on how to apply the Habitats and Birds Directives”.
The EU’s biodiversity strategy proposes 30% of the EU’s landmass and 30% of EU’s oceans should be designated as protected areas, with legally binding nature restoration targets and requirements for national biodiversity restoration plans.
It also proposes that at least a third of these – areas of very high biodiversity value – should become strictly protected areas.
Other provisions will see an aim to plant 3bn trees and monitor primeval forests as well as an Action Plan to protect marine ecosystems.