Portugal to bury 10km of power lines to protect birds

The LIFE PowerLines4Birds project will bury three sections of medium-voltage power lines in the Castro Verde Special Protection Area in 2026, removing 10km of overhead cable. The move targets lines already fitted with markers that failed to stop bird deaths, particularly of the great bustard, which faces collision risk, while species like the Spanish imperial eagle face electrocution. Burying lines is fully effective against both threats but far more costly, slower to license and less tested in rural Portugal than in countries like the Netherlands or Germany. Partners include LPN, SPEA, Quercus, SEO/Birdlife and E-Redes.