Position Paper of the MaB National Committee of Germany for the use of wind power and biomass in Biosphere Reserves.
Position Paper of the MAB National Committee for the use of wind power and biomass in Biosphere Reserves
Blieskastel, 5. September 2012
1. The challenges of the energy revolution – Chances of biosphere reserves as model regions use
To a German initiative, the International Coordinating (ICC), the highest governing body of the UNESCO program "Man and the Biosphere", during its 23. Meeting in the capital of Saxony adopted the "Dresden Declaration" on Biodiversity and Climate Change (1). In it are the representatives of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in favor, implement the goals of climate protection and adaptation to climate change in conjunction with the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in the areas recognized by UNESCO. The biosphere reserves will be so its claim, Model regions for sustainable development to be.
The 16 German biosphere reserves, the total 3,7 Percent of the land take, afford for many years an important contribution to climate protection and adaptation to climate change. They lead the world exemplary pilot projects in the areas of sustainable land use, environmentally friendly and resource-efficient economy, Safeguarding ecosystem services and energy efficiency and use of renewable energy by. Enable them to meet both requirements of the UNESCO, resulting from the Seville Strategy and the Madrid Action Plan.
The 2011 adopted by the Federal Government, according to the energy revolution opened MAB National Committee for the German biosphere reserves good opportunities for their further. Efficient, decentralized energy supply, for example, can significantly contribute to sustainable value in rural areas. At the same time the energy revolution these areas but it also faces new challenges, since the expansion of renewable energy significantly larger space use requirements associated. It is therefore, the use of land so as to control, that the biosphere its international obligations, they have undertaken with the recognition by UNESCO, can continue to fulfill in full use. A modified open space use by plants for energy (about using wind power) or. by monocultures of energy crops can lead to significant impairment of ecosystems and thus cause degradation of the biosphere reserves.
The MAB National Committee wants his position paper, therefore, the Federal- and the state legislatures, administrations, associations and all other stakeholders to give evidence, as the chances of the energy transition can be used in accordance with international guidelines of UNESCO and the national criteria for biosphere reserves. It therefore contains recommendations for the sustainable use of wind power and biomass, as well as proposals for the creation of appropriate conditions in the areas. This will also the legitimate interests of the population born in the biosphere reserves account, participate in the opportunities of the energy transition.
2. Sustainable use of wind energy
In the use of wind energy, it is primarily about controlling the room- and Planning. Currently, the regional planning suitable areas designated for wind turbines, partly in Biosphere Reserves. This requires a high level of planning- and test quality at all levels involved. Conflicts by overbuilding, Noise and light emissions, Surface sealing (and driveways), Avoidance behavior and mortality of birds and bats, Resulting impairment or disturbance of the landscape and habitat fragmentation in forest and open countryside.
The MAB National Committee is therefore of the view that:
- Core- and buffer zones of biosphere reserves are in accordance with their development objectives to be kept free of the full use of wind energy. The "criteria for recognition and verification of UNESCO biosphere reserves in Germany", which go back to the Statutory Framework of the UNESCO MAB Programme, provide, that the development objective of core zones in the process protection, So a natural development is largely unaffected by man, is. In the buffer zone, the conservation of biological diversity is a result of extensive use and care of the countryside at the center. Through appropriate use should rare and endangered animal- and plant species and their habitats will be obtained. The buffer zone is to support the core zone by appropriate use in their functions. This is not the construction of wind turbines compatible.
For municipalities / owners in the buffer zone to someone or a way to share in the economic benefits of the energy transition, for example, in the context of investments in neighboring plants. Wind farms, outside these zones.
- In development zones – unless they are excluded by legal protection of a wind energy - is the use of wind power at high standards possible.
The aim of the development zone, the first priority, sustainable use for protection, for the care and development of the cultural landscape and the natural- and cultural area typical landscape advance. It is an economic system to be established, The man and nature alike. Including u. a. the sustainable production and marketing of products from biosphere reserves and a nature-friendly recreational use. In shaping the development zone to the landscape typical settlement- and land uses considered and the variety of possible uses are shown.
Therefore, the construction of wind turbines in the development zone must meet high requirements. According to the MAB National Committee following aspects are taken into account:
• Municipal or. regional operators or smaller community wind farms (citizen-organized operating models) will be given preference, to enhance the local economy.
• projects are the expansion of renewable energy sources with a high degree of planning- performed and test quality. Their transparency under close and early involvement of people living locally as well as citizens of biosphere reserve management and Board of Trustees / Advisory Council ensures. The projects are supported by a majority of the local population.
• A comprehensible assessment with the conservation objectives / purposes of the biosphere reserve and its development prospects in the medium- and long-term vision has been carried out in close coordination with the biosphere reserve management. European protected areas (Natura 2000-Gebiete) and the national species- and Habitat Protection (especially birds and bats) was born in the planning process, full account.
• Similarly, a comparative evaluation with competing land use interests (you. a. Conservation, Live, Recreation, Tourism, Craft, Agriculture) is under intensive involvement of the citizens and the administrations.
• The identification of suitable areas has been primarily utilized for a concentration of the plant only a few sites (Concentration bid), to ensure the necessary diversity of uses in the economic development zone.
• The long-range effect (Of protection landscape) was taken into account as far as possible.
• The identification of suitable areas in the region is balanced and does not focus on faces in the Biosphere Reserve.
• According to the inspiring nature of the biosphere is sought, our allem depends on lokalen (Self-) Needs of municipalities and companies linked, innovative Anlagen (also combined with the use of other renewable energy sources) to build for the decentralized supply of rural.
• The effects are the expansion of renewable energies in the ecological, economic and sociocultural monitoring and research activities included in the biosphere reserve.
3. Sustainable use of biomass
In biomass production of annual crops for energy production, the challenges lie in the design of sustainable agricultural production and the prevention of long-term monocultures, particularly for maize and other energy crops. This intensive cultivation not only leads to significant depletion of landscape and animal- and fauna, but adverse influence of the soil. Should also provide to the increasing, Air omitted incriminating grassland, The substances released to water and soil (Groundwater) by fertilizers and pesticides, and reduced environmental impacts are minimized by biomass transports.
Spatial control of the cultivation of biomass is usually. not possible, because it is an agricultural use, the demand because of the privilege does not permit. The measures, which must be taken to reduce the pressure on nature and landscape, therefore are directed primarily to farmers, production are to the purposes of the development objectives of the biosphere reserve align sustainable. Federal and state governments must create the conditions for.
The MAB National Committee recommends that the sustainable use of biomass (Biogas production) Biosphere Reserves in cultivation implement standards with the following objectives:
• Compliance with site-adapted at least threefold rotations (Defining the main crop share to max. 50 %),
• Reduce the discharge of nitrogen fertilization by efficient,
• No recovery of farmland by grassland, particular Moor- and Anmoorstandorten, in floodplains and on erosion-prone sites,
• Promotion of flower-rich perennial crops and Paludi cultures on fen sites,
• The leaving and replanting of flower strips (with weeds), Way side rooms, small agricultural structures and hedges to the biotope network using a minimum of 7% of the farm farmland,
Should be kept to a minimum and are made to Ökolandbaustandards • energy crops in the buffer zone. Appropriate funding (Reconversion- and retention premium organic farming and nature conservation by contract) Ensure.
The energetic use of pruning from the region is preferred. In energy efficiency is a full use of heat from biogas plants to ensure.
The MAB National Committee holds with regard to the following federal Biosphere Reserves- and state law initiatives required:
• Adaptation of the fertilizer ordinance aimed at limiting the use of fertilizers to a sustainable level,
• Prohibition of the grassland upheaval on o. g. Locations through appropriate clauses in the country's conservation laws,
• securing further the conservation of valuable grassland habitat on the legal protection under the country's environmental laws,
• Rapid development of a sustainability directive for all types of biomass use by the Federal Government. The EEG contains in § 64 b, Digit 1 a regulation authorizing a, the Federal Government is the possibility to regulate, that "a right to remuneration for electricity from solid, liquid and gaseous biomass is only, if the biomass used for electricity generation meets the following requirements:
a) certain environmental and other requirements of sustainable farming and the cultivation of the land claimed in respect, in particular for the protection of natural habitats, of grasslands with high biodiversity within the meaning of Directive 2009/28 EC and from land with high carbon stock,
b) specific environmental and social requirements of sustainable production and
c) a specific greenhouse gas reduction potential, that must be achieved in power generation. " (2)
With the introduction of appropriate regulations for gaseous and solid biomass (for liquid before it is) would be the remuneration under the EEG linked to the sustainable production of energy crops. Not the whole of agriculture, but only the energy production would be reorganized.
Voluntary agreements between governments and farmers to Biosphere sustainable development of the cultivation of energy crops are being tested in some areas already successful and should be expanded. So there are e.g.. Biosphere Reserve in Lower Saxony Elbe Valley in cooperation with the local bio-region of Wendland Elbetal various forums and "round tables", which contribute to the development and coordination regionally actionable cultivation standards. Similarly, there is some experience with the issuance of certificates (NABU National Association of Lower Saxony. "Ten Point Paper biogas: Principles for Ecologically Sound Production, Biogas agreement between NABU Lindhorst Lower Saxony and the group ", Hanover / March Winsen 2011).
The MAB National Committee also advocates the introduction of a Certification system for the sustainable production of biomass. Transitional could such a certificate as proof of sustainability and condition for compensation under the EEG recognition (s. o.: Standards for sustainability ordinance pursuant to § 64 b Ziff 1 a EEG).
Financial incentives
As part of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (GAP) is currently funding 2014 – 2020 designed. The MAB National Committee urges federal and state governments, for the program proposed by the EU Commission "Greening" and use it to develop. That is to say, Direct payments (1. Column), which in principle can also obtain energy farmers, are subject to compliance with environmental standards. The MAB National Committee holds a substantial increase in the environmental commitments in the first column for essential. At least 7 % the operating area should be ecological compensation areas. A balanced three-tier crop rotation (Main fruit content is not greater than 50 %) must be maintained. Also important is the attractive and efficient design of the 2. Column to finance investing environment measures, Nature of contract- and groundwater protection and relevant counseling. The financing of organic farming (Conversion and retention bonus) is secure. This will stimulate, on regulatory principles beyond a sustainable energy crop production as well as the types- promote and habitat protection.
4. Current examples of the sustainable use of renewable energy in biosphere reserves:
In a number of biosphere reserves were already taken initiatives, to develop sustainable energy solutions and together with businesses and the public to implement locally.
Here are some examples:
• develop recommendations for builders and land use planning for energy-saving construction
• Use of energy efficient technologies and renewable energy in public buildings
• efficient and environmentally responsible use of biogas (of. B. full use of the waste heat from biogas plants, Combination with cogeneration, Biomass without maize crops or. of alternative crops in the region, Advice to farmers)
• Integration of wind turbines in municipal energy supply concepts
• Initiation and implementation of research- and development projects for sustainable local energy supply concepts (Bioenergy Village, Development of smart grids) you. a. by BMU
• Tendering of public competitions for the initiation of bioenergy villages
• measures for heat insulation of buildings using appropriate funding
These initiatives need to be strengthened and to support financially.
(1) Wording of the Dresden Declaration on the following link: http://www.unesco.de/5838.html
(2) www.bmu.de , EEG in the Date 1.1.2012 amended.
