Bats migrate. For some species these movements may be local; for others they may involve distances of thousands of miles, crossing national borders. All European bats are to a greater or lesser extent endangered with extinction. Some have even become extinct in certain countries. The reasons for this are mainly loss of roosts and feeding areas, poisoning from increased use of pesticides, and misunderstanding and prejudice arising from ignorance about bats and their lives and habits. If bats are to be properly protected, conservation activities need to be undertaken at an international level, over the entire migratory range of these species.

 

The Agreement on the Conservation of Populations of European Bats (EUROBATS) was concluded in London, UK in September 1991, and came into force in January 1994. The title of the Agreement makes it clear that bio-geographical rather than political boundaries define the Agreement area. The Agreement aims to address threats to all 37 species of bats identified in Europe arising from habitat degradation, disturbance of roosting sites and harmful pesticides. To this end, Parties to the Agreement agree to work through legislation, education, conservation measures and international co-operation with other Agreement members and with those who have not yet joined. In 1995, the First Session of the Meeting of Parties to the Agreement formed an Action Plan, which was to be translated into international action. They established an Advisory Committee to carry forward this Plan between the Meetings of Parties. The most significant items for the Advisory Committee are data compilation on the most important underground habitats for bats, on migration routes, forest practices and producing guidelines on the catching and marking of bats. The Action Plan also places considerable emphasis on monitoring and international protection measures for species which migrate the furthest across Europe, in order to identify and address possible dangers caused by bottle-neck situations in their migratory routes.

 

The UK ratified EUROBATS in January 1994. All bats and their roosts are protected in the UK under the provisions of the Wildlife & Countryside Act (WCA) 1981 and the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. In England and Wales the provisions of the WCA have recently been strengthened through the Countryside and Rights of Way (CroW) Act 2000. Certain bat species are also listed on Annex II of the European Habitats Directive, which is implemented in the UK through the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended), and the Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995. As of July 2003, the UK had recommended 38 maternity and hibernacula areas as candidate Special Areas of Conservation (cSACs) under the Habitats Directive. Implementation of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan also includes action for a number bat species and the habitats which support them.

 

JNCC assists the government in producing the annual UK National Report, which collates information on bat conservation activities across the UK, and provides scientific advice to the government at Advisory Committee Meetings and Meetings of the Parties.