Abstract
More than half of the 154 known bat species across North America are at risk of severe population decline in the next 15 years, according to the first-ever State of the Bats Report published by the North American Bat Conservation Alliance (NABCA), a multinational coalition from the United States, Mexico, and Canada, including Bat Conservation International.
Experts believe that as many as 82% of bat species in North America will be impacted by climate change in the next 15 years, especially by severe drought and temperature extremes. The other top threats to bats in North America include habitat loss, the bat disease white-nose syndrome (WNS), and mortality from wind turbines. As the scope and severity of these threats increase, so does the risk of losing some species forever.
“Bats are remarkable. They support our healthy ecosystems, but they need our help to survive,” said Dr. Winifred Frick, Chief Scientist at Bat Conservation International. “Conservation projects can make the difference between life or death for bats. People working together, from government agencies to bat enthusiasts, are important players to ensure bats have the attention and protections they need to survive and prosper.”
The State of the Bats Report highlights the importance of bat conservation, not only for their biodiversity value but for the ecosystem and economic services bats provide in terms of pest control, pollination, seed dispersal, ecotourism, and their contributions to innovation and science.