1 August 2011: The Agreement on the Conservation of Populations of European Bats (EUROBATS), which was concluded under the auspices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), has announced a project to support conservation efforts for one of Europe’s most endangered bat species, the Greater Horseshoe Bat, as part of the Year of the Bat.

Under the initiative of EUROBATS and German authorities, an abandoned farmhouse in Bavaria, Germany, which is the remaining roosting and breeding site for the bat, has been restored and currently accommodates approximately 40 females and 30 pups. In addition to being an important roosting site, the building is anticipated to become a research center for bat conservation.

The Year of the Bat (2011-2012) is a joint campaign, led by CMS and EUROBATS and backed by UNEP, that aims to promote conservation, research and education on the world’s only flying mammals, with a focus on the ecological benefits that bats provide, such as pest control and seed dispersal. [UNEP Press Release] [EUROBATS Website]