WIND FARMS: Invertebrates; arthropods; fungi, soils and peat
A Scottish mycologist I've called on the UK Government to declare a moratorium on all land-based wind farm development until a newly identified, potentially devastating threat turbines pose to the environment has been properly examined - letter to the Prime Minister and supporting information below. This action has been reported in the UK media and the issue is attracting growing interest amongst academics, anti-wind farm lobby groups and others in the UK
No N.G.O. or UK official organisation responsible for preserving the environment and/or wildlife has carried out research or takes significant interest in the impact of these vibrations on fungi, invertebrates, arthropods, peat or soils, confirmed by th UK/Scottish Governments; N.G.O.; quasi-government agencies such as: WWF; Natural England; DEFRA; Environment Agency U.K.; Rural Affairs and Environment Committee; Local Govt. and Communities Committee; Scottish National Heritage; UK Biodiversity Partnership; British Mycology Society; Plantlife; Buglife; Scottish Wildlife Trust; Friends of the Earth; Findhorn Foundation; et al
These tiny entities lie at very base of the universal food chain and I believe many are likely to be devastated by such vibrations
Please feel free to contact me for further information
best regards
Dixie Dean (Prof. Em.)
BSc, MIET, MBA, BIM, FRSA
Hon. Lect., European Ctre. for Prof. Ethics
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23 Queen’s Own Place
Forres
IV36 1FL
Tel: 044-01309-674-582
Email: zenminky@clara.co.uk
5th September 2007
Dear Prime Minister
Wind Farms: Soils, Peats, Fungi and Invertebrates
I write as a mycologist known to Scottish Forestry.
Major wind farm development is proposed on the Dava Moor, a high elevation peat bog area of the Scottish Highlands Cairngorm Mountains near me and host to many threatened and internationally protected species.
Despite considerable effort I find no research appears to have been done into the impact of sub- and ultra-sonic vibrations transmitted directly through wind turbine support structures into the ground on soils, invertebrates and fungi which, as you know, lie at base of the food chain. Such vibrations have considerable range. Both rare and common fungi and invertebrate species are likely to be affected; perhaps the structure of soils and peat itself (a small amount of worrying work has been done in those areas).
Do you not agree all wind farm development in the U.K. should be suspended until these matters are properly researched?
Yours faithfully
Dixie Dean (Prof. Em.)
BSc, MIET, MBA, BIM, FRSA
Hon. Lect., European Ctre. for Prof. Ethics
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INFORMATION
To meet Kyoto targets the UK government believes wind power will be an important factor, saying wind farms are environmentally friendly. But are they? No; as a mycologist I believe the contrary - they are very dangerous. So I’m calling for a moratorium on all wind farm development until a major new problem has been fully investigated:
Serious damage to the natural environment caused by mechanical vibrations transmitted directly through turbine support structures into the surrounding terrain has been completely overlooked. Note that such vibrations are unrelated to acoustics
These vibrations may devastate fungus, invertebrate and arthropod species, interfering with their abilities to feed and mate. Even individual living cells will be distorted and moved. The vibrations will in due time destroy the very fabric of peat, sand and soil for miles around. Peat bogs shaken to pieces will be flushed down to pollute streams as fibres disintegrate, collapse and rot. Sand and soil will shift, their integrated structures damaged
Fungi and invertebrates lie at very bottom of the food chain and many species are vulnerable to small environmental changes; need large areas for relatively small but crucial populations to survive, and are variously affected by the vibrations wind farms create
Bio-aerosols suspended in air and water such as dust mites, moulds, fungi, spores, pollen, bacteria, viruses and so on are crucial to terrain fertility as well as invertebrate well being. In the 1950s Canadian researchers found that for the first few minutes high frequency vibration increases the fertility fungi in soil; but if vibrations continue there’s a rapid decline. That means the air and ground can’t support life so well
The fact is we don’t know what we’re doing. The UK Applied and Environmental Geophysics Research Group and America’s Oregon University have measured the frequency range and level of such vibrations, but the British Energy Technology Support Unit say they can’t be predicted in advance
So I don't believe these installations are as friendly as the government tells us they are
Please feel free to contact me for further information
dixie dean (Em. Prof.)
01309-674-582