Title
2016-2020 B.C. Bat Action Plan Updated for 2021
Author(s)
Andrusiak, Lorraine; Holroyd, Susan; Kellner, Mandy; Lausen, Cori L.; ...; Rae, Jason; et al.
Published
2020
Abstract
The BC Bat Action Plan was developed in 2016 to inform and prioritize the activities of multiple groups working for bat conservation in BC. The impetus for the action plan was largely in response to the emerging threat of White Nose Syndrome (WNS) in western North America. Reviewed in 2019, the original 5-year plan was intended to be revised and updated in April 2021 at an in-person workshop. Travel restrictions due to COVID-19 resulted in cancelling the meeting. Instead, an online workshop was held in December 2020, to review and revise the plan with any new information and extend its guidance through 2021. BCBAT intends to develop a new 5-year plan for 2022-2027. Key priorities for 2021 were identified from the existing prioritized actions. These are:
• maintain the cooperative approach and multiple partnerships that current exist to facilitate/deliver projects,
• remain responsive to new information on bats and habitat requirements in the province and incorporate into guidance documents where relevant,
• continue effectiveness monitoring work underway for the Kootenay Wildlife Habitat Features project,
• focus on conducting engagement/outreach with professionals to communicate key information in government guidance material,
• update the BC CDC listings for bats as a high priority, as these listings influence the inclusion of bats in future FRPA updates and affect legal protections afforded to bats,
• continue passive surveillance for WNS as our key tool to detect WNS or Pd in the province,
• promote submission of data, identification of important areas for bats, and ecologically unique areas important to bats in order to inform land use decisions and conservation actions,
• continue the BC Community Bat Program – this program is essential to contribute to WNS surveillance and monitoring, as well as increase stewardship of bats across BC, and
• continue the NABAT program across BC to contribute to population monitoring
Full Citation
Andrusiak, Lorraine, S. Holroyd, M. Kellner, C.L. Lausen, ..., J. Rae et al. 2016-2020 B.C. Bat Action Plan Updated for 2021. British Columbia, Canada: British Columbia Bat Action Team, 1-55.
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