Medellin-based utilities giant EPM announced July 3 that it signed a biodiversity project alliance deal with University of Antioquia (U-A) to study and protect birds and other wildlife affected by EPM’s hydroelectric dams – including the under-construction “Hidroituango” dam in Antioquia.

According to EPM, the agreement with U-A “adds scientific, technical and administrative efforts for the integral management of biodiversity, through research and conservation actions in the areas of interest of power generation in Antioquia.

“With this alliance, initially planned to continue until 2020, five programs of integrated management of biodiversity in the zones of influence of different reservoirs in Antioquia are developed. The five research and training programs include terrestrial flora and fauna; ictiofauna, habitat and ecosystems; cyanobacteria monitoring and management of melanoides tuberculata; public health surveillance; and environmental education."

According to EPM, the new alliance with U-A is a continuation of earlier joint research projects with EPM, “based on the information needs related to monitoring the environmental impacts of the Porce II and Porce III hydroelectric projects and the efficiency of the management measures implemented.”

One just-completed project investigated the impact of the Hidroituango dam (and habitats flooded by the lake behind it) on various locally endangered or threatened birds, including Military Macaw (Ara militaris), Channel-Billed Toucan (Ramphastos citreolaemus) and Antioquia Wren (Thryophilus sernai), according to EPM.

Commenting on the U-A deal, EPM general manager Jorge Londoño de la Cuesta added: “In recent years we have witnessed a positive evolution of social and environmental performance standards for our energy generation operations, leveraged by an increase in the level of technical requirements of environmental regulatory authorities at the national and regional levels.

“Now we highlight a management scheme with the University of Antioquia, as it means that compliance with environmental obligations associated with our operations is being evaluated and followed by an entity with academic and scientific rigor.”