Lacking power

Published on Monday 22 March 2010 20:19

The letters published on 22 March, despite their criticisms of the RSPB, highlight how successful we have been in stopping windfarms killing eagles and other birds in Scotland.

We are very aware of the potentially horrific effect windfarms can have. In fact, our scientists are helping colleagues at Smola in Norway to reduce the devastating effect on white-tailed eagles there. But there are no "Smolas" in Scotland. There have been very few bird deaths at Scottish windfarms, and this is precisely because the RSPB has fought so hard to stop the most damaging proposals.

Of course, while we strongly encourage government to listen to our advice, we do not make the final decision. An objection from the RSPB does not necessarily stop damaging schemes being approved.

Indeed, one such scheme is Eisgein, which, despite our pointing out the major risk to eagles, did not draw an objection from Scottish National Heritage or the local authority, and was approved by Scottish ministers.

Our relationship with Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) has absolutely no bearing on our assessment of its proposed projects. In fact, some of our most vigorous opposition has been to SSE schemes, such as Pairc on Lewis, Waterhead Moor in Ayrshire and the Strathy windfarms in Caithness. For the record, RSPB Energy is about 0.15 per cent of our annual income.

The RSPB was involved in assessing almost 200 windfarm-related proposals in Scotland in 2009 – far more than any other conservation charity.

We do this to ensure windfarms do not harm important bird and wildlife populations. We will continue to encourage developers to give weight to our views, and to fight the damaging proposals, no matter who the developer is and no matter what type of development is proposed.

STUART HOUSDEN

Director, RSPB Scotland

Ravelston Terrace

Edinburgh