Bats and Key Biodiversity Areas

Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are globally significant sites for conservation.To date, c. , KBAs have been designated worldwide.Many of these evolved from the network of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and were thus designated because of their value for threatened bird species.Most have yet to be reassessed under the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs, established in for other taxa.In , the Global Union of Bat Diversity Networks established a global collaboration to proactively include bats, where appropriate, in the KBA initiative.At the th International Bat Research Conference, in Cairns, Australia, in August , we convened a symposium and workshop to promote the inclusion of bats in the KBA network.This was supported with funding from The Rufford Foundation.Over people from + countries participated in both events, at which speakers summarized the current situation regarding bats and KBAs in India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua and Uganda.During the workshop we reviewed the KBA designation process and looked at examples of how bats could be included in current and future KBAs.As well as potentially adding bats to the lists of species for current KBAs, there was a discussion of the designation of new KBAs based on their importance for bats.The bat species most likely to qualify as a KBA trigger are those categorized as threatened (Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered) on the IUCN Red List, those with restricted ranges or those that congregate in large numbers, typically in caves, mines or trees.As a follow-up to the