2019

Power lines cause the death of millions of birds around the world every year. This is a global problem which, far from diminishing, is getting worse as the production and consumption of electrical energy expands around the world and reaches remote areas previously deprived of such infrastructure.

This is the case, for example, in certain regions of North Africa. The relatively recent development of electrification in part of the continent means that this conservation issue for birdlife has not yet received the attention it deserves. However, worrying data on its impact has been gathered in recent years. Bird populations in this geographical area are in a very delicate situation. In other parts of the world, power lines are the main factor in the unnatural mortality of identical or closely related species, so the impact they may have in North Africa is undoubtedly of major interest.

This document is a compendium of this issue, its causes and consequences, and the various approaches to dealing with the problem, focusing on this geographical area, with the aim of promoting knowledge and prevention and, where possible, seeking solutions.