Bat Conservation RO

Bat conservation in Pădurea Craiului, Bihor and Trascău Mountains

Project duration: 2010 – 2013

The project was co-financed by the Life Programme of the European Union

Project objectives were:

– to ensure the long term conservation of the bat populations in the project area;

– to increase awareness among the general public of the ecological importance of bats and the need to protect them;

– to create a network of specialists and organizations which will contribute to the long-term monitoring of bat populations in the project area.

The results of the project are:

–  an action plan for the management of seven bat species for the project area was elaborated;

– a guideline for the elaboration of management plans of underground bat roosts and surrounding habitats was prepared, which can be used in the future at national level;

– 15 caves were closed in a bat-friendly way, to minimize the disturbance of bat colonies,
– in the most important tourism oriented caves, measures were taken to avoid the disturbance of bats;

– lighting conditions were modified in three caves;

– warning sign were placed at 40 caves in the area, to strictly prohibit the access to bat colonies located in the cave;

– 9 important underground habitats were cleaned up from waste;

– information boards were erected in front of 15 caves, which show the importance of bats and the main objectives of the project;

– informative materials (books, brochures, leaflets, documentary, website) were created, which contributed in changing the negative attitude against bats and to disseminate the project’s results;

– a network of specialists was created in the project implementation area; this will increase the sustainability and efficiency of future bat survey, monitoring and conservation actions.

For details: http://www.batlife.ro/