Wind energy and species reintroductions: a call to action for adaptive conservation planning

With the recent approval of the Nature Restoration Law and the launch of the RePowerEU plan, the European Union and other international organizations, such as the United Nations, advocate for biodiversity restoration and the decarbonization of energy sources. This dual agenda has led many countries to develop large-scale renewable energy projects while simultaneously funding the reintroduction of threatened species. The reintroduction of the Bearded Vulture in the Maestrazgo region of Spain exemplifies the challenges of balancing biodiversity conservation with renewable energy development. Initiated in 2015, this project aims to reconnect isolated vulture populations, enhancing genetic diversity and reducing extinction risks. Despite significant efforts, the project faces major obstacles. A recent incident involved the death of a reintroduced juvenile vulture that collided with a wind turbine 25 km from the release site, marking the first such case in Spain and the third in Europe. This event, together with other electrocution cases, illustrates ongoing threats that compromise conservation outcomes. At a broader scale, national syntheses indicate ∼9000 recorded Griffon Vulture fatalities over the last two decades (∼850 per year) in Spain, while in the Maestrazgo region alone 1079 Griffon Vultures died as a result of wind farm installations between 2008 and 2018. These figures underscore the magnitude of the conflict. Plans to install 125 new wind turbines (760 MW) in Maestrazgo further complicate conservation efforts. This communication calls for adaptive management and stakeholder collaboration to reduce risks, stressing the importance of incorporating scientific criteria into planning for sustainable conservation outcomes.