THE IMPACT OF POWER LINES ON WILDLIFE – A LITERATURE REVIEW AND EXPERIENCES FROM THE FIELD
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18690/jet.19.2.195–214.2026Keywords:
power lines, Right-of-Way, wildlife, habitat, environmental impactsAbstract
Power lines can have a significant impact on the environment both during construction and operation, particularly within right-of-way (RoW) zones or corridors beneath power lines, where the vegetation is maintained regularly. As part of this study, we reviewed recent research on the impacts of power lines on wildlife and game species, and examined two field examples from Slovenia. The research indicates that power lines can have both negative and positive impacts on the environment, depending on the animal species and environmental conditions. Common negative impacts include, for example, habitat degradation and fragmentation, as well as the barrier effect of safety corridors, which affect animal movement and ecosystem connectivity most significantly. Nevertheless, several studies indicate that RoWs can also serve as valuable habitats for many animal species. Our field observations confirmed these findings, as numerous signs of animal presence and activity were recorded beneath the power lines.
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