Topic

Integrated vegetation management

Sharing practices to demonstrate how to use the space around energy infrastructure to support biodiversity and reconnect ecosystems

about the topic

Grid operators must periodically manage the vegetation beneath the grid in order to prevent trees touching the power line and causing a fire or a blackout.

Scientific studies and examples from the field continue to show that, with a more ecologically-minded approach the land under powerlines can become biodiversity hubs.

Such management, known as “Integrated Vegetation Management” (IVM) can be used to create strategically planned networks of natural and semi-natural areas called ‘green corridors’. Moreover, this can provide benefits for rural stakeholders, boost public acceptance of infrastructure, and, bring down maintenance costs.

Learning from the experiences of our partners, RGI shares good practices from across the globe to showcase how to use the space around energy infrastructure to support biodiversity and reconnect ecosystems.


contact

Liam Innis

Liam joined RGI in June 2019 and now works on the Onshore Environment Team. As of 2021, he is responsible for the coordination of three national TSO/NGO collaboration projects in Germany and Ireland. He is also the contact person for topics relating to nature protection and ecosystem restoration. He has previously worked in public relations, research, teaching and sustainable development. Liam holds degrees in Modern Languages (BA – German, Spanish and French with Dutch) and Environment, Development and Policy (MA) from the Universities of Newcastle and Sussex (UK) respectively.