– Aquila Clean Energy reinforces its commitment to the protection of the environment and biodiversity

– Its latest initiative aims to increase knowledge about use of the habitat of the Iberian harrier and other steppe bird species

Madrid, May 11th 2023 – Aquila Clean Energy, a company that develops and operates renewable energy projects with a focus on solar and wind power, and GREFA (Grupo de Rehabilitación de la Fauna Autóctona y su Hábitat), a reference in the study and conservation of nature, have signed a collaborative agreement to help conserve Iberian harriers through an “Iberian Harrier Conservation Campaign in the Sagra Madrileña-Toledana” project. This is the second agreement reached between the two organisations.

This campaign seeks to act on the main threats to the conservation of the harrier species, which are legally protected. These threats are directly related to the consequences of climate change, due to early harvesting and the dependence of these species on cereal crops. The campaign aims to reduce the population decline of the harrier.

According to María Ganado, sustainability manager at Aquila Clean Energy in Spain: “This project is part of one of our strategic focuses, which is to protect diversity and the natural environment. In addition to ensuring the correct deployment of our projects in the region, applying the principle of prevention in view of the possible repercussions they may have, supporting these initiatives for the conservation of species reflects our continuing commitment to providing real solutions to problems of this nature”.

For its part, the general secretary of GREFA comments: “This agreement with Aquila Clean Energy is an interesting line of action to reduce the impact of the energy transition on harriers and their habitats, on whose recovery we have been working for many years.”

This is the second agreement that has materialised between the two organisations, following collaboration last year involving the sponsorship of two imperial eagles, a species at danger of extinction. Through this initiative, the eagles were fitted with a geolocation system, which enabled the collection of data on their behaviour in the natural environment – information of great importance to their monitoring, control and protection.

The protection of the natural environment and biodiversity is one of the pillars on which Aquila Clean Energy’s sustainability plan is based. Through such projects, the company is reinforcing its commitment to sustainable practices that have a positive impact on the environment.