Bat Conservation Receives International Support

MANILA (October 27, 2017) – At the Twelfth Conference of the Parties, the United Nations Environment Programme’s Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) has adopted Peru’s proposal to list four species of migratory bats in Appendix II of CMS. Appendix II includes migratory species that the international community agrees have an unfavorable conservation status that would benefit from international cooperation for their conservation and management.

Alejandra Goyenechea, senior international counsel for Defenders of Wildlife, said:

“Peru is taking the lead on bat conservation at the international level. By adopting bat protections at the domestic level and appealing to the international community to collaborate on the next step, they’re sending a clear message: bats need our help, and Peru is stepping up to the plate. The CMS community supports this initiative, which will both help advance the fight against climate change and protect bats for generations to come.”

Dr. Erin Baerwald, postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Regina, said:

“International collaboration is crucial if we want to protect wide-ranging species that do not understand geopolitical boundaries. This listing will promote regional cooperation and help ensure the cumulative impacts of wind energy development are considered. It’s an important move in our efforts to protect these incredible animals.”

Dr. Rodrigo Medellin, scientific councillor of the CMS and co-chair of the IUCN Bat Specialist Group, said:

“This is a great step forward to make the greenest of our available energy sources even greener. Bats are crucial for our well-being as humans and for ecosystems, and this proposal gets the best of two worlds: conserving bats and improving the ways we generate wind energy.”