Active protection of the western barbastelle in selected forest areas in Poland

05.01.2023

The Minister of Climate and Environment, with the support of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, as the Operator of the Environment, Energy and Climate Change Programme, informs about the conclusion of a contract for co-financing the project “Active protection of the western barbastelle in selected forest areas in Poland”.

Environment, Energy and Climate Change Programme #environment NGO's

The project beneficiary is Polish Society for the Bats Protection.

About the project

The project received funding in the call for proposals for Activities related to the protection of the environment and ecosystems carried out by the NGOs under the Environment, Energy and Climate Change Programme, in the area of Environmental status of ecosystems improved.

The total cost is approximately EUR 200 thousand (PLN 850 thousand) and the requested amount of funding is approximately EUR 170 thousand (PLN 770 thousand).

It is co-financed in 90% by the Environment, Energy and Climate Change Programme of the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism (of which 85% comes from the EEA Financial Mechanism and 15% from the national budget).

The aim of the project is to improve the habitat conditions for the western barbastelle bat by creating artificial shelters and supplementing knowledge on the activity of this bat in forests. This will be achieved through the installation of around 1,200 crevice boxes. Activities will be undertaken in the area of the Forest Inspectorates of Kozienice, Tomaszów, Hajnówka, Spała, Łopuchówko, Wołów, Waliły, Świdnica, Krzystkowice, Skierniewice, Leśny Zakład Doświadczalny in Murowana Goślina, Kampinoski National Park.

It is also planned to publish "The Guide to the active protection of the western barbastelle", which will contain information on this species and aspects of its conservation.

The project will be extended with educational and promotional activities addressed to foresters and the public. Its results will be presented in the form of a series of papers at the National Chiropterological Conference.