Lewis Windfarm Debated at Natura 2000 Conference in European Parliament

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th Apr 2008

The Lewis Windfarm was among one of the many issues debated at yesterday's Conference in the European Parliament, entitled - NATURA 2000: An opportunity for or an obstacle to development?

The seminar, co-organised by Scottish MEP Elspeth Attwooll, focussed on looked at a number of case studies associate with the implementation of the NATURA 2000 programme from all over the European Union.

Alan Anderson, Conservation Operation Manager of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said:

"The Scottish Wildlife Trust supports the need for an expansion of renewable energy. Wind farms are a vital component of this requirement, though not to the detriment of internationally protected sites such as the Isle of Lewis' Special Protection Area. This is one of the best and largest examples of blanket bog wildlife habitat in the world".

And Stephen Boyd, Assistant Secretary of the Scottish Trade Union Congress, commented:

"Today's ALDE group seminar was timely and illuminating. Effective policy to reconcile economic development and Natura 2000 can only be developed through such mature and balanced discussion involving all stakeholders".

Summing up, Elspeth Attwooll MEP, said:

"The object of the seminar was not to determine the outcome of any specific case but simply to get a better understanding of the kind of conflicts that can arise.

The focus has been on seeing how far it is possible to avoid these in the first place. And, where it is not possible, to look at the best ways of resolving them

The common theme has been that economic interests should not be seen as incompatible with environmental protection, and that this is possible through increased partnership and dialogue between all parties concerned ".

-ENDS-

Notes:

Other case studies considered at the conference included:

• Case of desertification in Murcia (Spain)

• Problems of local communities located in tourist mountain areas (Beskidy Poland)

• Lack of chances for development of tourism in the most famous mountain tourist area (Zakopane, Poland)

• Liverpool port project increasing international trade and safeguarding environment (UK)

• Examples of solved conflict in Austria - Lech Valley and ASGINAG motorway company (Austria)

• Traffic separation case near the Straits of Gibraltar (Spain)

• Reconciling tourism and nature in Feldberg district (Germany)