Gas Natural SDG : Fenosa and GREFA convert disused electricity power sheds into biodiversity points

• Three of these disused installations in the provinces of Cuenca and Segovia have already been adapted to provide habitats for protected species.

• Nests have been installed in each power shed for such birdlife species as owls, little owls and red-billed choughs, as well as bat roosts.

GAS NATURAL FENOSA and Grupo de Rehabilitación de la Fauna Autóctona y su Hábitat (GREFA) have signed an agreement to refurbish old disused electricity power sheds and convert them into biodiversity points to help the recovery of protected species.

Three of these disused constructions were recently adapted to provide habitats and breeding grounds for such wildlife species as owls, little owls, red-billed choughs and several species of bat. The three power sheds on which work was carried out are located in the municipalities of Uña and Villalba de la Sierra (Cuenca) and Navas de Riofrío (Segovia), with some twenty bird nests and bat roosts installed at each one. The researcher from the National Natural Science Museum (belonging to the CSIC), Guillermo Blanco, acts as scientific advisor to the project.

Disused buildings present in natural habitat areas, semi-natural habitat areas and even those inhabited by people offer great opportunities for creating biodiversity points. 'That is precisely what we've been doing for years in farm silos to create colonies of lesser kestrel, an endangered small migrating falcon, and we've now started to do the same for many other species in power sheds thanks to a partnership with GAS NATURAL FENOSA', says Fernando Garcés, General Secretary of GREFA.

The project stems from observations by GREFA naturalists that certain species were already spontaneously using disused power sheds as breeding grounds and habitats. 'The goal of the project is to facilitate this process so that various power sheds can be refurbished each year for wildlife and thus build a network of biodiversity points throughout the country', explains Fernando Garcés.

Commitment to the environment and our natural surroundings

GAS NATURAL FENOSA maintains a firm commitment to society and, for many years, has been adopting a corporate culture of respect for and awareness of the environment and environmental improvement, which it continually conveys to its employees, customers, suppliers and society in general.

GAS NATURAL FENOSA is commemorating the International Day for Biological Diversity (Monday 22 May) with the publication of its Biodiversity Report 2016, a document that contains information on the company's main initiatives relating to conserving biodiversity, preserving ecosystems and protecting natural environments.

About GREFA

Since it was set up in 1981, this NGO has helped over 60,000 animals at its Wildlife Hospital in Majadahonda (Madrid), and is considered to be the largest and most active organisation in Europe within its specialised field. Over the years, GREFA has also consolidated itself as an international benchmark thanks to its projects aimed at creating biodiversity - which are especially focused on indigenous wildlife experiencing conservation problems - via an extensive range of actions, such as breeding in captivity, reintroduction and strengthening of wildlife populations, satellite monitoring and nest surveillance.

Barcelona, 22 May 2017

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