3 August 2012: The UN Environment Programme Convention for the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (UNEP/CMS) has published the fifth edition of the newsletter, “Year of the Bat Chat,” highlighting the status of bats in Asia and the Pacific. CMS leads the Year of the Bat campaign in 2012.

Ian Redmond, CMS Ambassador, writes about the need for the Year of the Bat, noting that most people still regard bats with fear and revulsion, rather than awe and wonder. An article from Australia highlights that the Grey-headed Flying fox faces an uncertain future, and it will take strong advocacy to ensure that resources are committed for its protection. Finally, an article from Malaysia reports that the state government of Terengganu has agreed to protect flying foxes.

The Year of the Bat 2011-2012 is a two-year global species awareness initiative undertaken by CMS and the Agreement on the Conservation of Populations of European Bats (EUROBATS). Each edition of the newsletter focuses on a particular region of the world, and emphasizes the importance of bats for ecosystem services, including the challenges they face. [CMS Press Release] [Publication: Summer 2012 Newsletter: Year of the Bat in Asia and the Pacific]