For years we thought solar panels were devastating the countryside: it turns out birds and insects live much better beneath them

A UNEF and EMAT report found more bird species inside several Spanish solar plants than in neighboring farmland.

The piece adds evidence from the UK and Australia linking solar parks with higher biodiversity and, in some cases, better grazing conditions.

The findings suggest well-managed solar expansion can pair renewable power with ecological gains and rural land use benefits, shifting the debate around solar’s environmental impact.