Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A pilot project aimed at preventing bird collisions with power lines has been launched in Uzbekistan. The initiative was presented at a press conference held at the Central Asian University for Environmental Studies and Climate Change.

The project is being implemented by ACWA Power in cooperation with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change. It focuses on minimizing the impact of wind farms, particularly the "Bash" and "Janjeldi" projects, on bird populations and preserving biodiversity in the region.

"Wind energy plays a crucial role in the transition to sustainable energy sources, but it is essential to mitigate its impact on wildlife," noted participants of the conference.

As part of the project, ACWA Power is testing innovative Bird Flight Diverters (BFD), which reduce the risk of bird collisions with wind turbine blades. Special attention is being given to protecting the highly endangered Asian great bustard (Chlamydotis macqueenii), as Uzbekistan serves as a key habitat for this species. Many of these birds reside near wind farms, making their conservation efforts critical.

Leading international experts took part in the conference, including J.P. Silva (Biopolis-CIBIO and University of Porto, Portugal), Professor Paul Dolman (University of East Anglia, UK), and Kate Scotland, an expert on bird-wind energy interactions.

Over the next three years, researchers will conduct weekly monitoring of medium and large bird mortality along the entire length of the power lines. Different types of BFDs will be tested using a structured methodology, alternating with control sections without the devices to assess their effectiveness.

A crucial part of the study involves tagging 100 captive-bred birds and 100 wild individuals to track their behavior and reduce collision risks.

The experiment is expected to identify the most effective measures for protecting birds along a 300-kilometer power line and establish best practices for bird conservation in Uzbekistan and Central Asia.

Additionally, the data collected will provide a comprehensive risk assessment for the Asian great bustard, allowing for the development of effective mitigation and compensation strategies to protect this vulnerable species.