Bonn (Germany), 1
August 2011 - One of Europe's most endangered
bat species has received an important conservation
boost thanks to an innovative project carried
out as part of the UNEP-backed Year of the
Bat.
An abandoned farmhouse
in Bavaria, Germany - the last remaining
roosting and breeding site of the Greater
Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum)
- has been thoroughly restored by the local
government and other partners, to provide
optimum living conditions for the endangered
species and new facilities for researchers.
The Bat House in Hohenburg
currently accommodates around 40 females
and 30 pups. It is estimated that around
30 male bats also live in the area. In the
1920s the Greater Horseshoe Bat was commonly
found in south and central Germany, but
today the species is threatened with extinction
across central Europe due to intensified
agriculture, the use of pesticides and loss
of suitable roosting sites in buildings.
As Greater Horseshoe
Bats hang freely from the ceiling and have
particular requirements with regard to temperature
and light intensity at their roosting site,
they are particularly vulnerable to changes
in their natural environment.
With the participation
of the State Secretary of the Bavarian Ministry
for Environment and Health, Melanie Huml,
and Andreas Streit, Executive Secretary
of EUROBATS - a binding international agreement
administered by UNEP that aims to protect
53 bat species in Europe - the newly refurbished
complex was presented to the media and broader
public, highlighting its history and importance
for bat conservation efforts.
"We are happy to
present this extraordinary conservation
effort as our contribution to the Year of
the Bat campaign. The project combines sustainable
species conservation and the opportunity
for people in the region to experience nature
in a special way, thus also contributing
to the tourist industry," said State
Secretary Huml.
UNEP/EUROBATS Executive
Secretary, Andreas Streit, added: "This
outstanding example of conservation action
in the field is not only of national importance,
but will inspire similar activities in other
parts of Europe".
As well as providing
a site for the endangered bats to roost,
the building is set to become an important
research centre. State-of-the-art infrared
cameras installed in the attic of the complex
will allow researchers to closely monitor
the behavior of these sensitive animals
and learn more about their behaviour.
The colony was first
discovered in 1992 and has received support
from the regional government ever since.
In 2007 the purchase of the building by
the municipality of Hohenburg was made possible
through extensive funding by the Bavarian
Nature Protection Fund and other sources.
Since the beginning of the initiative, around
US$1.4 million has been invested in the
building to help conserve the local bat
population. A project office and an information
centre are due to be added to the complex.
The conservation project
in Germany reflects the obligations of the
33 member states of the EUROBATS agreements
to protect overground breeding and resting
sites (known as roosts) from disturbance.
In Europe, a high percentage of bat species
roost for at least part of the year in buildings
- often those of historical or cultural
importance such as churches, castles and
bridges.
The UNEP-backed Year
of the Bat (2011-12) is promoting conservation,
research and education on the world's only
flying mammals, placing a special focus
on the ecological benefits that bats provide,
such as pest control and seed dispersal.
Notes to Editors
The Agreement on the
Conservation of Populations of European
Bats (EUROBATS), a binding international
treaty which came into force in 1994, presently
numbers 33 European states among its Parties
and counts 62 range states plus the European
Union within its area. The Agreement was
concluded under the auspices of the Convention
on the Conservation of Migratory Species
of Wild Animals (CMS), which recognizes
that endangered migratory species can be
properly protected only if activities are
carried out over the entire migratory range
of the species. Administered by UNEP, EUROBATS
aims to protect all 53 species of bats identified
in Europe, through legislation, education,
conservation measures and international
co-operation with Agreement members and
with countries which have not yet joined.
(www.eurobats.org)
The Convention on the
Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild
Animals (CMS), also known as the Bonn Convention,
works for the conservation of a wide array
of endangered migratory animals worldwide
through the negotiation and implementation
of agreements and species action plans.
At present, 116 countries are parties to
the convention. (www.cms.int)
