Using sensitivity maps to identify the risks of collision and electrocution for birds in France

Whitin the framework of our project, our partner LPO France has developed a new set of sensitivity maps to help French transmission system operator RTE and distribution system operator Enedis plan and manage the electricity grid in ways that better respect biodiversity.

With more than 800,000 km of overhead power lines spanning France, the grid can pose a significant risk to birds through both collisions and electrocution. Identifying the areas where sensitive species are most located is therefore essential for prioritising concrete mitigation actions on the most hazardous lines, pylons, and poles. The sensitivity maps are a key tool to support this work, enabling RTE and Enedis to target and prioritise interventions where they are most urgently needed.

How the maps were developed

To produce these maps, LPO designed a method that processes species occurrence data, mainly sourced from Faune-France, a national citizen science platform. The process includes several steps:

1. Data filtering: Observations were screened based on criteria such as date or recorded bird behaviour, ensuring only relevant data are used.

2. Species-level mapping: Depending on the species, filtered data were either directly processed through cartographic analyses (e.g. buffer zones) or trained species distribution models, generating complete high-resolution maps (1 km²) across France. This makes it possible to identify sensitive areas on a species-by-species basis.

3. Synthesis mapping: The individual species maps were then combined using a spatial prioritisation method. This approach weights species according to both their conservation importance and their specific sensitivity to collision or electrocution.

This methodology has already been successfully tested in local projects and is now being scaled up for national use.

Four national maps produced

Based on the distributions of 95 bird species most at risk in France, and drawing from over 30 million naturalist records contributed by networks and conservation associations, LPO France has produced four sensitivity maps:

• Collision risk on high-voltage and very high-voltage power lines.

• Collision risk on low-voltage and medium-voltage power lines.

• Electrocution risk on high-voltage and very high-voltage power lines.

• Electrocution risk on low-voltage and medium-voltage power lines.

These maps now provide a powerful tool to guide biodiversity-friendly infrastructure development across France, ensuring that efforts to secure energy supply also protect vulnerable birdlife. These are available for download below.

Do you want to know more about the methodology? Please contact: Aurélien Besnard (aurelien.besnard@lpo.fr) and Ingrid Marchand (ingrid.marchand@lpo.fr).

List of organisations involved in the development of the sensitivity maps (data sources and expert opinions): A Pichjarina, ACETAM (programme personnel de baguage Cigogne noire), Ana-Conservatoire d'espaces naturels Ariège, ARB Île-de-France, Association Nature du Nogentais, Asters-Conservatoire d'espaces naturels Haute-Savoie, Bretagne Vivante, CDPNE (Comité Départemental de la Protection de la Nature et de l'Environnement du Loir-et-Cher), Charente Nature, Conservatoire d'espaces naturels Occitanie, Conservatoire d'espaces naturels Pays de la Loire, Conservatoire d'espaces naturels Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur, COGard (Centre Ornithologique du Gard), Coordination régionale LPO Pays de la Loire, Eure-et-Loir Nature, CPIE Sud-Champagne, GODS (Groupe Ornithologique des Deux-Sèvres), GON Nord (Groupe ornithologique et naturaliste), GONm (Groupe Ornithologique Normand), GOR (Groupe Ornithologique du Roussillon), Groupe Tétras Jura, Indre nature, Grus Gascogna, LOANA (LOrraine Association NAture), Loiret Nature Environnement, LPO Alsace, LPO Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, LPO Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, LPO Bretagne, LPO Centre-Val de Loire, LPO France, LPO Hauts-de-France, LPO Normandie, LPO Occitanie, LPO Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Nature 18, Nature En Occitanie, OGM (Observatoire des Galliformes de Montagne), Office National des Forêts, Picardie Nature, Parc national des Ecrins, Parc national de la Vanoise, Parc naturel régional du Vercors, ReNArd (REgroupement des Naturalistes ARDennais), Tarn-et-Garonne Biodiversité - SSNTG, Vautours en Baronnies.