Abstract
Andmyran Vindpark AS plans to construct a wind park at the north-eastern part of Andøya, Nordland, at the bog-dominated flatlands west of Ramsa and Breivik. An investigation area of c. 11.8 km2 is evaluated. Consequences of a construction are estimated by NINA’s Department of Arctic Ecology in Tromsø. Estimations are based on values of vegetation, geology, bird fauna and other fauna.
Aspects that were evaluated in relation to valuation is degree of production and continuity, biological function, occurrences of threatened (red-listed) species, in addition to rarity of nature types and vegetation types within the investigation area.
Few registrations of valuable geological characters were made. A few minor areas with marine sediments increase the value to minor.
The landscape is totally dominated by wetlands, of which various bog and fen types are the most common. A site in the southern part of the investigation area is estimated to have high biological value, because it is covered by an intact, ombrotrophic, asymmetric concentric bog. This nature type is considered as valuable by the Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management, and in the report on threatened vegetation types in Norway, it is considered as endangered. A less developed concentric bog in the northern part of the investigation area, east of Storvatnet, is considered to be of intermediate value. The same value is given to a small site consisting of moderately rich lawn fen slightly east of Breivik. The intact ombrotrophic bogs within the investigation area, as well as the limnic vegetation in Storvatnet is considered be of minor value.
The investigation area’s total value with regard to bird fauna is considered to be intermediate. Nevertheless, there is a site close to Storvatnet which is considered to be of high biological value. The reason for this is that its type of breeding bird fauna is evaluated by the Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management as valuable on a national scale. In particular, the occurrences of breeding red-listed species contribute to increase the value. Moreover, one of two flight corridors for red-listed raptors, as well as one corridor for a pair of breeding whooper swans and for red-breasted divers near Storvatnet, are also of high value. This is because these birds are totally dependent upon having the opportunity to move from their respective breeding areas to their important hunting areas by the coastline, and these movements generally take place at altitudes between 50 m and 200 m above ground. The last corridor for raptors, which runs between Sverigedalsvatnet and Breivika, is of intermediate value.
The overall evaluation shows that the highest values are centred in the southern and the northern parts of the investigation area, and that the consequences of the planned constructions will be less serious for the central parts.