Contribution to sustainable development: DTEK installs 773 bird protection structures across the Dnipropetrovsk region
In 2021, DTEK Dnipro Grids installed 716 bird diverters and covers on power lines to protect birds from electrocution, 20 stork nesting platforms and 37 artificial nests for birds of prey, such as scops owls and hobby falcons. The company is a part of the large-scale environmental education project #EnergyWings launched by DTEK Grids. Besides, the company’s customers helped a lot when they identified nests that needed to be moved to protective platforms. Thanks to these business initiatives, DTEK Dnipro Grids could save more than 320 birds from death, including those protected by the Berne Convention* and the Red Book of Ukraine.
Biodiversity protection is one of the DTEK Dnipro Grids priorities. The company has been taking care of the bird conservation since 2013. And every year they expand the ornithological safety program across the Dnipropetrovsk region.
“DTEK is transforming business in accordance with the New Strategy 2030, based on the principles of ESG, values and business responsibility for progress in achieving the sustainable development goals of the UN Global Compact. Namely, goal 15 "Preservation of terrestrial ecosystems." In 2021, we installed over 700 reflective diverters that make power lines visible to birds in flight and prevent them from colliding with wires. As part of the #EnergyWings project, 20 nesting platforms for storks were installed on poles. In total, there are already more than 180 such nests in the region. And there are 2,500 bird diverters and covers on the lines. Environmentalists estimate that our conservation initiatives have already helped save more than 3,700 birds. This is our contribution to the bird protection and the conservation of Ukraine's biodiversity,” said Andriy Tereshchuk, Head of DTEK Dnipro Grids.
Artificial nest platforms are strong baskets made of metal rods. They are attached to electrical poles above electrical wires. This design prevents the nest from slipping on the line and protects it from breaks. Thus, birds are protected from electric shock, lines from short circuits and outages, and customers from blackouts.
In addition, last year our energy workers installed 2 new nests for hobby falcons and 35 artificial nests for scops owls. These are rare species of owls protected by the Berne Convention. New nesting sites for owls were arranged according to the ornithologist recommendations, namely in the forest belts between Krivyi Rih and Sofiyivka (Krasnoye, Novopole, the Yuzhnoe reservoir and others).
In 2022, the company will keep contributing to the sustainable development of the region and will install at least 10 stork nesting platforms, as well as 950 bird protection devices on power lines.
For reference:
* The Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats came into force on 1 January 1982 and has since been acceded to by 51 parties, including the European Union. Ukraine joined the Berne Convention in 1996. The Berne Convention is the main environmental law in Europe. Almost all other environmental conventions of our continent, the environmental legislation of most European countries and the environmental directives of the European Union are based on the Berne Convention.