Problemas de ejecución de los estudios y evaluaciones de impacto ambiental sobre las aves

We analyse the reply by Suárez et al. (2003) to our previous paper (Martínez et al., 2003), concluding that both reached the same general conclusion. The low quality of studies and evaluations of environmental impact assessment on birds is mostly due to a lack of interest and political will for using the information available and for detecting and solving relevant gaps in our knowledge. For this reason, the regulation of the Environmental Impact Assessment of projects is not applied efficiently in Spain. We also conclude that the disagreements between both papers refer mostly to details on (1) the relevance of gaps in basic information, (2) methods for using such information and (3) proposals to improve the quality of studies and evaluations. There are gaps in basic information, but a proper use of available sources which are seldom used would improve significantly studies and evaluations in the short term. Such sources are scientific papers on the biology of bird species and reports on the results of monitoring programs of the efficiency of correction measures of previous impacts. Increasing the scientific skills of technicians would improve the efficient use of these sources of information. Finally, the development of a variety of methods for the control of the quality of studies and evaluations, as well as of some regulations seldom used such as Territory Planning and Strategic Environmental Assessment, would further contribute to solve its general low quality.