The proposed dams in Iceland are likely to completely destroy the nest sites of 1050-1350 pairs of Pink-footed Geese (equivalent to four per cent of the UK wintering population). In addition, thousands more are likely to be affected less directly by impacts such as the effects of hydrological changes on the birds.
The Icelandic Government will put thousands of pairs of nesting Pink-footed Geese at risk by sanctioning two hydro-electric schemes, BirdLife International said today. Iceland has almost 90 per cent of the global population of this small goose, almost all of which winter in the UK, mainly in East Anglia and Scotland [1,2].
“BirdLife International estimates that as many as one in seven of the Pink-footed Geese that visit the UK in winter could be affected or displaced by these hydro-electric schemes”, said BirdLife Europe’s Conservation Manager, Szabolcs Nagy. “The two affected sites – Utherad and Thjarsarvar Important Bird Areas (IBAs) – are globally recognised, but Iceland seems determined to renege on its international conservation commitments and to damage and destroy substantial portions of these sites.” [3,4,5]
Work has already started on the Karahnjukar hydroelectric scheme, in Iceland’s central highlands. Once completed the scheme will damage the breeding, feeding and moulting areas for 3,800 pairs of Pink-footed Geese: representing an eighth of the birds visiting the UK in winter.
The scheme, which will flood up to 56 square kilometres of Arctic wilderness, was initially rejected by the Icelandic planning agency following an environmental impact assessment which showed unacceptable levels of damage. However, the agency’s decision was reversed by the Environment Minister, Siv Fridliefsdottir.
A second proposed dam at Thjorsarver IBA will, if built, stand 578 metres high and will destroy a further 42 square kilometres of habitat used by an estimated 500 to 800 pairs of Pink-footed Geese. The area is thought to be the most wildlife-rich site in central Iceland. Both schemes will be created to provide power for proposed North American-owned Alcoa aluminium smelting plants based in Iceland [6.7].
Jóhann Óli Hilmarsson of the Icelandic Society for the Protection of Birds (BirdLife in Iceland), said: “Our society has campaigned vigorously to persuade the Icelandic Government to refuse permission for these dams to be built and is asking for our government to protect the Karahnjukar and Thjorsarver areas for future generations. If these projects go ahead it will be a loss not only to Iceland but also to the world”.
The appearance of skeins of thousands of Pink-footed Geese every winter provides the UK with one of its greatest wildlife spectacles. Visiting birdwatchers making a pilgrimage to see the birds are fuelling a much-welcomed tourism boost for local communities, particularly along the north Norfolk coast.
The Icelandic Society for the Protection of Birds and RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) are campaigning to save these unique and fragile sites by urging people in Iceland and the UK to write directly to the Icelandic Government asking them for clemency.
Notes for Editors
1. BirdLife International is a global alliance of national conservation NGOs working in more than 100 countries who, together, are the leading authority on the status of birds, their habitats and the issues and problems affecting bird life.
2. Globally, the Pink-footed Goose is divided into two separate populations: a combined one breeding in Iceland and Greenland and a separate population breeding in the Norwegian islands of Svalbard. Iceland hosts 87 per cent of the global population of Pink-footed Geese (about 10 per cent of these breed in Greenland but moult and stage in Iceland). Almost all of the 225,000 birds from the combined Iceland and Greenland population winter in the UK. The smaller Svalbard population, numbering 35,000 individuals, largely winters in Denmark, northern Germany and the Netherlands, with smaller numbers in Belgium, and northern France. A few Svalbard birds are thought to reach eastern Britain every winter.
3. Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are places of international significance for the conservation of birds and are selected using standardised, internationally agreed criteria.
4. The proposed dams in Iceland are likely to completely destroy the nest sites of 1050-1350 pairs of Pink-footed Geese (equivalent to four per cent of the UK wintering population). In addition, thousands more are likely to be affected less directly by impacts such as the effects of hydrological changes on the birds.
5. The Thjorsarver site is recognised by the Ramsar Convention as being a wetland of global importance. Iceland is a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Berne Convention, which aims to protect species and habitats important within the area covered by the Council of Europe.
6. The Icelandic national power company have signed an agreement to provide power from the Karahnjukar hydroelectric scheme for an aluminium smelting plant to be operated by the North American company Alcoa.
7. It is intended that the Thjorsarver dam would provide power for Nordurál (Nordic Aluminium) that is owned by Columbia Ventures Corporation (CVC) which is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
See: ISPB (Icelandic Society for the Protection of Birds) in English