Bats and People: Assessing Awareness, Threats, and Conservation Challenges in Three Selected Barangays in Naawan, Misamis Oriental

This study assessed community knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes toward bats in Barangays Patag, Mapulog, and Tagbalogo in Naawan, Misamis Oriental. Data were collected through surveys of 98 individuals and key informant interviews with eight local officials. Respondents reported awareness of the importance of forests and bats and expressed support for habitat protection, anti-poaching measures, and natural resource conservation. Knowledge gaps and uncertainty persisted regarding the ecological roles of bats and their interactions with people. Pesticide use, noise pollution, garbage dumping, quarrying, and illegal logging were among the most frequently reported potential disturbances. Interview responses indicated limited information about bat populations and uneven awareness of local conservation measures. The findings describe community perceptions and do not directly measure ecological threats, population trends, or policy implementation. They support targeted environmental education, biodiversity monitoring, coordination among local institutions, and opportunities for community participation in conservation.