A new leaflet promoting the conservation of Ireland's threatened bats is available published by the Heritage Council, in association with local authority Heritage Officers.

The leaflet, 'Conserving Bats' is the first in a series and provides practical advice on how to help flying mammals as well as raising awareness of legislation protecting bats and telling readers where they can find out more.

Liam Lysaght, ecologist with the Heritage Council said, "Nine species of bats are found in Ireland, more than a third of all the land mammal species that occur here. We have the second largest national population of lesser horseshoe bats in Europe and our population of Leisler's bats is of international importance. Bats are part of out natural heritage but are becoming increasingly vulnerable, and are threatened by habitat loss, pesticide use and human disturbance.

"The leaflet on bat conservation provides guidelines on how local authorities can help in the conservation of bats by considering their protection when addressing issues such as building construction, habitat management and bridge maintenance. Many departments within a local authority can also contribute to the conservation of bats and their habitats by surveying for their presence and inserting requirements for their protection when considering planning applications, housing inspections, demolition of buildings, and infrastructural works."

Liam Lysaght explains further, "The leaflet gives us an insight into where bats can be found, the threats which may lead to their extinction, and how we can all play a part in safeguarding their future. The Heritage Council is playing its part in bat conservation by ensuring that the buildings identified for funding under Council's Buildings-at-Risk scheme are assessed for their use by bats when repair work is being planned. Any building work is then planned to ensure that the conservation of bat roosts is catered for. This process is now well underway with a survey having been completed for almost 50 buildings. Already roosts of many of our rarer species have been found, including one previously unrecorded roost of lesser horseshoe bats which is of international conservation significance."

The threat to bats and their habitats is recognised by their protected status under a variety of National and European laws including the Wildlife Act 1976, The Bonn Convention, Eurobats Agreement and the Wildlife (Amendment Act) 2000. Under these laws and agreements it is illegal to damage, destroy, obstruct or keep bats without a licence.

A further two leaflets in the series of heritage conservation will be published with reference to legislation on hedgerows and built structures.

These leaflets are available free of charge from local authority Heritage Officers, county council web sites and on the Heritage Council's web site, www.heritagecouncil.ie