The expansion of solar energy in China may be affecting bird diversity, according to a study.
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The rapid expansion of solar power in China, one of the world’s largest renewable energy deployments, may be having an unforeseen effect on biodiversity. A new study published in the journal Science It found a relationship between policies that favor the installation of photovoltaic plants and a reduction in bird diversity in different regions of the country.
The study analyzed data from 2,344 Chinese counties over a ten-year period, combining information on solar power development with records of bird biodiversity. The researchers found that areas with more intensive photovoltaic expansion policies experienced greater reductions in species diversity.
The impact was not the same for all species. Birds that nest in vegetation and those that depend on other animals or seeds for food were among the most affected groups. Researchers point out that the construction of large solar installations can transform habitats, fragment them, and alter food availability.
The research also found geographical differences. The effects were particularly significant in regions with greater biodiversity and outside of desert areas, where the presence of bird species and natural ecosystems is generally lower.
The challenge of producing clean energy without losing biodiversity
The results highlight one of the difficulties facing the energy transition: although solar energy allows for a reduction in dependence on fossil fuels, the construction of large facilities also requires space and can generate environmental impacts when developed in sensitive ecosystems.
The researchers are not proposing to halt the expansion of solar energy, but rather to improve the planning of where plants are built. One of the proposed alternatives is to prioritize arid or desert areas with lower biodiversity, instead of forested areas, wetlands, grasslands, and other territories of greater ecological importance.
International evidence also shows that the impact of solar farms on birds can depend considerably on their location and how the land is managed. A study conducted in the UK found that solar installations managed to support nature can support a greater diversity of birds than intensively farmed agricultural land.
Written by: Karen Rodríguez A.