Blaming the wind? The impact of wind turbine on bird biodiversity

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Meng, Lina; Liu, Pengfei; Zhou, Yinggang; Mei, Yingdan
• 署名单位: Xiamen University; Xiamen University; University of Rhode Island; Xiamen University; Renmin University of China
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0304-3878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2024.103402
• 发表日期: 2025
• 关键词: Wind turbines; Bird biodiversity; habitat loss; Food chain

摘要

We quantitatively assess the impacts of onshore wind turbines on bird diversity using citizen science data in China. Results show that a one-standard-deviation increase in wind turbines reduces bird abundance by 9.75% and leads to a 12.2% reduction in bird species richness at the county level. The negative impacts are more significant in migrant birds, birds in forests, urban and farmlands than others. Biodiversity protection helps to safeguard bird abundance against wind turbines. We also find that habitat loss rather than food chain change after the wind turbine installations contributes to biodiversity loss. The net impact of wind turbines on the environment is positive when considering the carbon reduction effects.