Dzhankeldy Wind Power Project

Table 7-41 Significance of Habitat Fragmentation
R
ECEPTOR
 
V
ALUE
/
 
S
ENSITIVITY
 
M
AGNITUDE
 
S
IGNIFICANCE
 
Endangered Birds (Waterbirds 
– None 
Confirmed during Surveys) 
Very High 
Negligible 
Minor 
Threatened Birds (Waterbirds) 
High 
Minor 
Minor to 
Moderate 
Nationally Threatened Birds 
(Waterbirds) 
Medium 
Minor 
Minor 
Non-threatened Birds (Waterbirds) 
Medium 
Minor 
Negligible to 
Minor 
 
 

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Dzhankeldy 500MW Wind Farm 
ESIA Volume 2- Main Text, Tables & Figures 
257 
H
ABITAT 
D
EGRADATION 
(E
DGE 
E
FFECT
) 
Ecosystem function is reduced at the ecotone between developed areas and undeveloped 
natural habitat. The edge effect results in a general degradation of quality around the 
boundaries of development. Wildlifeis likely to avoid the edges of development, which further 
reduces habitat availability and creates a zone with lower biodiversity. 
Species that are likely to be particularly affected include those that show avoidance 
behaviour from anthropogenic developments, which may avoid the boundary of the wind 
farm and thus experience inflated habitat loss. Species such as Houbara Bustard may 
experience an increase in the effect of habitat loss, due to similar macro-avoidance behaviour 
from areas of disturbance, which could include wind farms. 
The magnitude and unmitigated significance calculations are presented in the table below. 
The magnitude of the potential impact has been determined to be minor given the relatively 
large expanse of available similar habitat in the wider region.