JERUSALEM, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- A new study by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, released Wednesday, found that installing solar panels on water reservoirs is associated with a sharp decline, up to 40 percent, in the number of duck and diver species.
While the panels contribute to the fight against the climate crisis on the whole by producing clean energy without taking up open natural or agricultural spaces, the study warned that they could pose a threat to endangered species in water reservoirs.
According to the study, filter-feeding ducks and diving birds were the most affected. Rare species such as the marbled duck and the stiff-tailed duck, of which a third of the global population winters in Israel, showed troubling declines.
The study recommended leaving key water reservoirs free of solar panels and limiting coverage where necessary. It also called for continued monitoring and follow-up studies to ensure the transition to renewable energy does not harm waterfowl populations. ■
