The Action Plan for Australian Bats
Environment Australia, 1999
ISBN 0 642 2546 363
Summary
This Action Plan, which was prepared for Environment Australia, reviews the conservation status of 90 taxa of Australian bats. Development commenced several years ago and builds upon comments arising from two workshops that were held in 1996 and 1997. Comments and advice were also sought from individuals with bat expertise and ANZECC agencies. An editorial panel was convened in 1998 to finalise listings against the IUCN criteria, make taxonomic decisions and finalise the text of the recovery outlines and taxon summaries.
This Action Plan lists one taxa as Extinct (EX), two taxa as Critically Endangered (CR), three as Endangered (EN), four as Vulnerable (VU), one as Lower Risk conservation dependent [LR(cd)], 11 as Lower Risk near threatened [LR(nt)], 14 as Data Deficient [DD], and 54 as Lower Risk least concern [LR(lc)]. Recovery outlines are presented for all taxa listed here as EX, CR, EN and VU. Briefer taxon summaries are presented for taxa listed as LR(cd), LR(nt) and DD.
This Action Plan highlights the high proportion of Australian bats that are threatened with extinction. The main causes of decline in bats have been identified and include habitat clearing, disturbance of roosts, forest harvesting and the collapse, closure or re-working of old mines.
The Action Plan, through the recovery outlines and taxon summaries, shows what needs to be done to conserve Australia’s bats. In most cases, what needs to be done is clear; what is required is the commitment and resources to carry out the necessary work.