China solar policy reduces bird diversity

A study published in Science on August 20, 2026, found that China's solar expansion policies are associated with declines in bird diversity. Analyzing data from 2,344 counties from 2014 to 2023, researchers led by Huiming Zhang of Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology found that a one-standard-deviation increase in policy intensity corresponded to a 2.10% reduction in the bird biodiversity index. The decline was attributed to land conversion, particularly the transformation of croplands and grasslands into developed areas, and was stronger in wealthier and non-desert regions. The study also identified a phenomenon called 'inferior greening,' where increased leaf area index masked ecological degradation. Yuanning Liang of Peking University wrote a related commentary emphasizing the need to value biodiversity in policy analysis. The authors recommend careful siting and biodiversity safeguards for solar projects.