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WIMBY - Wind In My Backyard: High-resolution ecological niche models and connectivity analyses for selected wildlife species

Subproject of: WIMBY - Wind In My Backyard: Using holistic modelling tools to advance social awareness and engagement on large wind power installations in the EU. (WIMBY)

Project Leader
Schöll Eva Maria, Project Leader
Duration:
01.01.2023-31.12.2025
Programme:
Horizon Europe - Global Challenges - Research & Innovation Action (RIA)
Type of Research
Applied Research
Staff
Nopp-Mayr Ursula, Sub Projectleader
Kunz Florian, Project Staff
Diengdoh Vishesh Leon, Project Staff (bis 31.12.2024)
BOKU Research Units
Institute for Landscape Development, Recreation and Conservation Planning
Institute of Sustainable Economic Development
Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management (IWJ)
Funded by
Commission of the European Communities, Rue de la Loi, Brussels, European Union
Abstract
The expansion of wind energy contributes, among other things, to achieving climate goals. However, it must be ensured that this expansion is acceptable from an ecological perspective. In order to make such an assessment, possible impacts on ecosystems and wildlife species must be recorded and associated nature conservation interests must be considered.
Species-specific habitats, existing stepping stones and dispersal corridors are of major importance for maintaining gene flow, thereby preserving genetic diversity and minimizing extinction risk within meta-population systems. However, these factors have often been disregarded or even neglected in previous planning processes for wind farms. Within the project, high-resolution, spatially explicit models (ecological niche model, ENM) will be developed for selected wildlife species based on robust and easily available presence-only data points. The models will subsequently be transformed to landscapes´ resistance matrices, which in turn will be used within connectivity modelling.
Keywords
Animal ecology ; Zoology; Wildlife science;
biology; land use; metapopulation; ecological consequences; wind power;
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