Lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 10251084

By safeguarding the future of bats and their habitats, BCI helps ensure the preservation of our planet’s biodiversity, creating a healthier environment for both wildlife and humans. Bat Conservation International (BCI), based in Austin, Texas, USA is devoted to conservation, education, and research involving bats and the ecosystems they serve. BCI was founded in 1982, as scientists around the world became concerned that bats—essential to the balance of nature and human economies—were in alarming decline. BCI has achieved unprecedented progress by emphasizing sustainable uses of natural resources that benefit both bats and people. In almost 30 years, BCI has built considerable experience addressing conservation through partnerships with the US Fish & Wildlife Service and many national and international agencies and nonprofits. With our partners we have produced publications, workshops, scholarships and research, and site-specific projects across the nation and around the world. Currently employing a staff of 30 biologists, educators, and administrators, BCI is supported by members in 60 countries. Our pioneering accomplishments have been featured in international wildlife documentaries and books, magazines, newspapers, and web sites worldwide. BCI has sponsored research documenting the key roles of bats in major ecosystems, supported training for graduate students in 33 countries, and trained hundreds of international wildlife managers in bat management and conflict avoidance techniques. BCI has considerable experience conserving threatened and endangered bats through international partnerships. BCI’s International Scholarship Program (with funding from the US Forest Service) allows university students to undertake bat-related fieldwork. BCI’s Global Grassroots Fund empowers local conservationists and scientists to launch bat conservation projects. Applicants are often addressing bats/habitats at locations so remote the sites are completely unknown and not on any "inventory lists.” We prefer to fund projects that focus on both habitat protection and on education about the ecological and economic value of bats. Global Grassroots has contributed small grants to over 70 individuals and nonprofit groups in 39 countries. Currently BCI’s programs are focusing on bat conservation in North America, South America and Asia-Pacific. Specific groups of bats that are in critical need of protection include: 1.) Colonial cave-roosting bats. They are at high risk because large populations often roost in few caves. As a result diseases or roost destruction, disturbance, or vandalism can wipe out much of the population at one time. 2.) Migratory bats. These bats are especially threatened because they need intact roosting and foraging habitat and water 4 throughout their migration corridors, and if any of these resources are missing in a single area it can lead to rapid and severe population decline. Global climate change is a factor in diminishing resources through many migratory corridors. 3.) Threatened and endangered bat species. Bat species which have already been identified as having declining populations or particularly imminent threats are desperate for protection. Lesser long-nosed bats, belong to all three of these categories of “bats in need of protection”, and this is why we are asking for support in the mission of protecting this species.