§4.3 Sensitivity mapping

Identifying suitable locations or excluding unsuitable locations can be part of the appropriate assessment of plans. It needs to be based on a proper analysis of how far the EU protected habitat types and species present in the whole area of the proposed development are vulnerable to the planned activities. Sensitivity mapping is a method often used to identify areas that may be particularly sensitive to development of sectoral activities. It is often used, for instance, to identify sensitive bird and bat areas that may be unsuitable for wind energy developments, or to identify potential conflict areas for industrial activities, or housing developments. Sensitivity maps can be used at an early stage in the planning process to identify areas containing ecological communities sensitive to a specific influence or activity. They can inform strategic planning decisions during the initial site selection phase of the development process and can operate at a regional, national or transnational scale. Sensitivity mapping approaches do not replace the need for a site-specific appropriate assessment under Article 6 of the Habitats Directive and for environmental impact assessments (EIAs). They can, however, be used during the appropriate assessments/EIAs and after the development consent has been delivered to inform siting and possible management prescriptions. Sensitivity mapping uses geographic information systems (GIS) to collate, analyse and display spatial and geographic data, which are based on existing spatial biodiversity data relating to species and/or sites; however, sometimes data needs to be collected specifically to aid the creation of a sensitivity map that is relevant for the plan in question. Sensitivity maps need to be regularly updated. The frequency and scale of these updates is an important aspect to consider in the design of sensitivity maps, as ecological communities are dynamic and their behaviour can be sometimes be difficult to predict. Therefore wildlife sensitivity maps should always be interpreted with caution. The Commission has produced a Wildlife Sensitivity Mapping Manual (46), a practical guide for developing sensitivity mapping approaches for renewable energy technologies. This manual provides an overview of datasets, methodologies and GIS applications. It focuses on species and habitats protected by the EU Nature Directives, with particular emphasis on birds, bats and marine mammals. It also includes a step-by-step approach for preparing wildlife sensitivity maps, which is presented in Box 22 below. Box 22 Step-by-step approach to sensitivity mapping 1) Identify the types of developments (projects, activities, infrastructure, etc.) to be included and the species and habitats likely to be affected. To do so consider: — species/habitats likely to coincide with development (at any stage of their lifecycle) and consider all life history phases (breeding, migration, etc.) — different phases of development (e.g. construction, operational phases) as well as associated infrastructure — which species/habitats are sensitive to development — which species/habitats are of conservation concern (e.g. those listed within the Birds and Habitats Directives) — how species can be affected: e.g. habitat loss and degradation, collision with infrastructure, avoidance, displacement and barrier effects. 2) Compile distributional datasets on sensitive species, habitats and other relevant factors. — Review what data are already available and decide whether additional data should be collected — If the datasets are spatially incomplete, consider using modelling based on habitat and landscape predictors to forecast distribution in under-sampled localities — It is also important to highlight data deficiencies and other methodological shortcomings. 3) Develop a sensitivity scoring system — Assign sensitivity scores to species and habitats based on relevant characteristics (habitat fragility, conservation status, species behaviour, etc.) 4) Generate the map — Identify what is the most appropriate mapping format, GIS software, mapping unit, etc. — Generate a grid based on an appropriate mapping unit and overlay the species distributions (or models) and potentially other useful datasets, including relevant buffer zones — Identify the species present within each grid cell — For each grid square, calculate a score using the species sensitivity scoring systems. 5) Interpret the map — Group sensitivity scores in categories indicative of their level of sensitivity (e.g. very high, high, medium, low) or that indicate a particular prescription (e.g. no-go vs low risk areas) — Develop guidance material that explains what data are used, how the map is generated, how it should be interpreted and what caveats exist regarding the interpretation. National examples of sensitivity mapping are presented below. Box 23 The Netherlands national wind farm sensitivity map The National Wind Turbine Risk Map for the Netherlands is a spatial mapping tool for the early screening of onshore wind farm developments. The tool focuses on terrestrial bird populations and includes sites of ornithological importance such as migration hotspots, high natural value farmland and important roosting sites. The tool measures risk for bird species in terms of their conservation importance. It does not integrate any assessment of species susceptibility to collision. Data were compiled from a variety of sources, including the national breeding bird census, water bird counts, colonial bird counts, data from a bird airstrike model (BAMBAS, bird biomass of flying birds), Natura 2000 sites and specific rare bird inventories. Migration hotspots were also integrated. Risk maps were generated for specific sensitive bird species or groups of species as individual layers, for example waterfowl birds, meadow birds, swans and geese, Natura 2000 and Red List species foraging areas. The individual layers were used to compile the final risk map. For each ‘layer’ of the map, the grid cells in the Netherlands were classified as being of low, moderate or high risk based on the site’s importance and/or number of species present. Buffer zones were identified for each species and applied to the maps. The scores from the various grid cells were aggregated in the final map. This tool has proved to be very useful as a screening tool. While the map has not been formerly adopted within the Dutch planning system, it is still widely used. Overall risk map illustrating risk from highest (purple) to relatively low risk (light blue) (Source: Aarts, B. and Bruinzeel, L. (2009) De nationale windmolenrisicokaart voor vogels. SOVON Vogelonderzoek Nederland/Altenburg & Wymenga https://assets.vogelbescherming.nl/docs/e3b4524d-5cc2-4565-a65e-3226a124837e.pdf?_ga=2.19770104.1164016512.1551712082-129991070.1550147440) Box 24 A sensitivity mapping tool for hydropower development in Austria Hydropower developments should follow a strategic approach so that the remaining significant, sensitive and intact stretches of a river can be safeguarded. To support this, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) prepared a master plan to provide a technically sound decision basis for assessing the need to protect Austrian waters (WWF Ökomasterplan, 2009). The study was published in 2009 and assessed, for the first time, the ecological significance of 53 of the largest rivers in Austria with a catchment area larger than 500 square kilometres. It also presented the official data of the current status analysis of the ministry responsible for implementing the EU Water Framework Directive and providing conservation-related information, such as on Natura 2000 sites and other protected areas. Each of the water stretches was categorised and prioritised in order of importance according to different selection criteria (for example, ecological status, situation in protected areas, hydromorphology, length of contiguous free flow path) and each river stretch was ranked according to the following sensitivity classes: — Sensitivity class 1: very high merit protection based on the ecological status — Sensitivity class 2: very high merit protection due to the situation in reserve(s) — Sensitivity class 3: highly deserving of protection on the basis of morphology — Sensitivity class 4: highly worthy of protection due to length of contiguous free flow — Sensitivity class 5: potentially worthy of protection as there is no existing database for environmental condition assessment — Sensitivity class 6: potentially worthy of protection — Sensitivity class 7: low merit protection — Sensitivity class 8: existing energy economic use — Data deficient (ecological status, hydromorphology) Box 25 Online platforms to access sensitivity maps in Ireland A web platform enables rapid and interactive spatial examination of environmental sensitivities and potential for land-use conflicts. These can support strategic environmental assessment and appropriate assessment and, ultimately, informed planning and decision-making. As an example, the Irish Biodiversity Data Centre portal provides access to the bird sensitivity map to wind energy through an online web tool. Source: https://maps.biodiversityireland.ie/Map

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-09-07