LIFE PODKOWIEC PLUS
back to the forest – holistic conservation of bat breeding habitats
Project Mission and Goals
Our mission is to sustain and improve conservation status of threatened bat species in Central and Eastern Europe through:
Proactive conservation
We protect bats in any circumstances
Keep the Distance!
Study, protect, but do not disturb
What threatens bats and how we protect them?
As a result of anthropogenic impact, some European bats have lost their natural roosts. Instead of it, they use buildings and man-made cultural landscapes. The changes in the environment are still progressing and influencing the availability of bat shelters which is decreasing every year. The impact of the barriers which are restricting the use of safe and rich foraging areas is also increasing. Our project protects existing habitats but also creates new alternatives for those that may soon be lost.
The lesser horseshoe bat, which is the flagship species, has gained a friendly image in people’s perceiving, due to our previous projects. However, the experience of the pandemic period, which has sensitized us to the threats of globalization to the natural world, has prompted a new look at bat conservation. Hence, in this case, the slogan “Keep distance!” calls for such an approach to nature conservation that gives space between people and wild animals. The project also proposes to gradually move away from costly remedial measures to a safer, more effective option in the long run. This offers the bats a return to the forest because of the special infrastructure, they will find optimum conditions in all seasons.
Project funders and implementers
Target species
The Project concentrates on the Lesser horseshoe bat as the flagship species, occurring in all range countries and having a long record of successful interventions, accepted by the public.
All target species of bats are listed in Habitat Directive Annex II, EUROBATS Agreement and respective national legislation.