AVISTEP

AVISTEP – Integrating Bird Conservation into Energy Planning

Nature Conservation Egypt (NCE), in collaboration with BirdLife International and the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), has supported the introduction and localization of the Avian Sensitivity Tool for Energy Planning (AVISTEP) in Egypt.

AVISTEP is a free, web-based spatial planning tool developed by BirdLife International to support the sustainable expansion of renewable energy while safeguarding bird populations. By identifying areas of high avian sensitivity, the tool enables planners and decision-makers to better assess environmental risks and guide the development of wind farms, solar energy projects, and transmission infrastructure in ways that minimize potential impacts on vulnerable species.

In June 2024, NCE convened a national workshop to formally introduce the tool in Egypt, bringing together key stakeholders from government institutions, including the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), and the New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), alongside representatives from the private sector and development partners. The workshop, facilitated by Tris Allison, Senior Conservation Scientist at BirdLife International, provided a platform for dialogue on integrating biodiversity considerations into Egypt’s rapidly expanding renewable energy sector.

To support national uptake and accessibility, NCE collaborated with the AVISTEP development team to produce Arabic-language training and awareness materials, ensuring that the tool can be effectively used by local practitioners and decision-makers.

This initiative aligns with Egypt’s ambitious renewable energy targets of generating 40% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2040, as well as broader continental and global commitments to accelerate clean energy deployment following COP28. While the expansion of renewable energy is essential for climate action, it also highlights the urgent need to integrate biodiversity safeguards into planning processes from the earliest stages.

Recognized internationally at COP14 in Samarkand, AVISTEP represents an important step toward reconciling energy development with biodiversity conservation. Through this work, NCE continues to play a leading role in ensuring that Egypt’s energy transition is not only low-carbon, but also nature-positive and scientifically informed.

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