| Summary: | PrefaceThere is a great need for knowledge concerning the impacts of wind power on humans, landscapes, the marine environment, birds, bats and other mammals.Previous studies of these environmental impacts have lacked an overall view of the effects. This has led to deficiencies in the processes surrounding the establishment of new wind farms. Vindval is a knowledge programme undertaken as a collaboration between the Swedish Energy Agency and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. Its aim is to gather and communicate scientific knowledge about the impacts of wind power on people and the natural environment. The programme continues until 2013.Vindval comprises some 30 individual research projects, together with four synthesis projects. Syntheses are prepared by experts, who compile and assess overall research results and experience regarding the effects of wind power in four different areas – humans, birds/bats, marine life and terrestrial mammals.The results of this research and synthesis work will provide a basis for environmental impact assessments and for the planning and permitting processes associated with wind power installations. Vindval requires high standards in the review and approval of research proposals, in order to ensure high-quality reports. The same high standards apply to the reporting, approval and publication of research results from the projects. The contents of the report are the responsibility of the authors. Johanna Bengtsson Ryberg2, Gösta Bluhm3, Karl Bolin4, Bosse Bodén5, Kristina Ek6, Karin Hammarlund7, Marianne Henningsson1, Inga-Lena Hannukka8, Carina Johansson9, Sofia Jönsson1, Sanna Mels9, Tom Mels9, Mats Nilsson3, Erik Skärbäck7, Patrik Söderholm6, Åsa Waldo11, Ingegärd Widerström12, Niklas Åkerman13 1. Linnaeus University, Department of Psychology, Kalmar 2. Environmental Protection Agency, Stockholm 3. Karolinska Institute, Environmental Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden 4. KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm 5. Mid Sweden University, Economy, Östersund 6. Luleå University of Technology, Environmental Finance / Economics, Luleå 7. Swedish University of Agricultural, Human Geography / Landscape Architecture, Alnarp 8. Vattenfall, Stockholm 9. Gotland University, Human Geography, Visby 10. Stockholm University, Environmental Psychology, Stockholm 11. Lund University, Sociology, Lund 12. Consultant, Wilark AB, Kalmar 13. Linnaeus University, School of Economics, Kalmar.
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