PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Although bats and the habitat type ‘Caves not open to the public’ are protected under Greek, European and international legislation, little has has been done regarding their conservation in Greece. The personnel of competent authorities and cave users (e.g. cavers, archaeologists, geologists, and tourist guides) often lack knowledge on the conservation needs of bats and the relevant legal framework. Unauthorized visits take place quite regularly in Greece, with detrimental effects. As a result, even in important ‘closed’ caves, as well as other bat refuges such as mines and tunnels, there are many cases of deliberate or unintended bat injuries or deaths, and habitat degradation. Untrained visitors can disturb bats, which during sensitive periods (e.g. late pregnancy or hibernation) can result in roost abandonment and/or deaths of new born or torpid bats. Furthermore, unappropriately designed gates at entrances can delay bat emergence, cause injuries and adversely impact underground microclimate. In addition, disused mines that provide shelter to many bats (mostly Habitat Directive Annex II species) are rendered useless for roosting if their entrances collapse.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE GRECABAT project aims at improving the conservation status of the habitat type ‘Caves not open to the public’, listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive, and 10 bat species listed in Annexes II-IV, in 10 Natura 2000 network sites in Greece.
Specific objectives are to:
Improve, restore and protect the cave habitat and bat roosting sites in the selected Natura 2000 sites; Reinforce the legal framework for protecting and managing bats and caves on a national level, through species and habitat Action Plans and the creation of cave micro-reserves; Involve volunteers and promote citizen science to multiply the expected impacts of management and conservation actions; Alter inappropriate attitudes and behaviour concerning bats and the management of underground sites used by roosting bats; Raise public awareness concerning the ecological importance of caves, the effects of human activities on their conservation, and the legal framework for their protection; Demonstrate conservation methods and promote their replication and transfer on a national level during and after the project; and Promote green tourism and jobs linked to Natura 2000 management. The project directly implements the Habitats Directive and its actions help implement the Natura 2000 Prioritised Action Framework (PAF) for Greece.
Expected results:
Roosting habitat of 13 multi-species colonies restored, improved and protected; Installation of permanent telemetry systems to monitor parameters in the Habitat Directive-listed ‘caves not open to the public’ habitat and for bat colonies in caves, which also provide alarm messages when unauthorised entry to the caves is attempted, and the design and use of prototype portable data loggers to monitor environmental conditions and bat colonies at all sites; Adoption of two Action Plans (for the cave habitat and for the target bat species) by the Ministry of Environment and Energy, and an assessment of the 30 most important caves in Greece regarding their potential classification as “wildlife refuges” (cave micro-reserves) and/or “protected natural formations” under national legislation; Establishment of a network of trained volunteers to report on caves and bats, and also act as an early warning system enabling immediate preventive action against threats to the target habitat and species; Seminars, workshops and field trips organised for stakeholders involved in the management of underground sites, with questionnaires and interviews conducted before and after these events to monitor changes in attitude; Production of an integrated guide for the management and correct use of caves and other underground shelters to protect both habitat and bats; Extensive public awareness campaign, particularly targeting schools, and the production of information for cave information centres; and Two business cases for the demonstration and the wider application of the project’s proposed methods, with at least one expected to be adopted by a target entity during the project’s lifetime.
