Bat Refuges
Protecting these remarkable flying mammals isn't just about saving a species in our lifetime; it's about creating incredibly beneficial imprints for all future lives, as well as safeguarding the very vitality of our natural world. Pipistrelle bats are crucial indicators of ecosystem biodiversity.
It is our collective and individual responsibility to to preserve and tend to the environment in which we all live.
~
His Holiness XIV Dalai Lama
Why Bats are Disappearing
The Common Pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) is facing a rapid decline due to a combination of human-induced pressures. These highly sensitive creatures are encountering unprecedented challenges that threaten their very survival and, by extension, the health of our ecosystems.
Their homes are vanishing:
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Renovations and Repairs: As old stone buildings, bridges, and even long-standing farm structures undergo repair or renovation, bats are rapidly losing their vital roosting sites.
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Forest Clearance: The relentless clearing of forested areas for agriculture and development, coupled with the "safety-driven" removal of dead or decaying trees, directly eliminates crucial roosting spots. Bats depend on these natural features for shelter and raising their young.
Their food source is disappearing:
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Loss of Hunting Grounds: The conversion of wild flower meadows, natural pastures, and uncultivated fields into intense agricultural land means bats are losing their essential hunting grounds for flying insects.
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Pesticide Devastation: The widespread use of common pesticides in agriculture has a direct impact on the insects that bats need to survive. A drop in insect populations has a dramatic, cascading effect on bat populations, especially given their highly specialized prey-detection system using ultra-sound, which can even be specific to particular insect species.
New threats from modern living:
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Light Pollution: The growing popularity and proliferation of LED lights in built-up areas are disrupting and deterring bats. These bright lights interfere with their nocturnal navigation and foraging behaviors.
A crucial lack of understanding:
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Perhaps one of the most fundamental challenges is the intolerance and profound lack of understanding regarding the immense importance of bats and the vital environmental services they provide. From natural pest control to pollination, their contributions are indispensable.
These converging pressures paint a stark picture for bat populations. Addressing these challenges is not just about protecting one group of animals; it's about safeguarding the delicate balance of our shared natural world. All but three are now considered endangered, rare, or vulnerable, with local extinctions already documented. This underscores the critical need for robust conservation efforts to protect these beneficial creatures. Furthermore, it's worth noting that all bat species across the European Union are protected under the 'Habitats and Species Directive'.
The Proposed Dharma Roosts
We will use sustainably managed timber and professional wall fixings. All planning, construction and painting with holy mantras and images will be done in Nalanda's workshops.
Costs:
Douglas fir planks (9 m2) - €150
Wall fixings for 4 to 6 bat refuges - €100
UV resistant exterior paints - €50
Some of the designs approved by conservation organisations include:
Their Usual Secure Spot
A common feature of older properties here in Southern France, like ours, is window shutters – essential for shielding living spaces from the intense summer heat.
What many don't realize is that the gap between the wall and these shutters also provides an ideal roosting spot for bats, and has done so since the shutters were installed way back when.
Unfortunately, essential renovation work is planned for this building in the near future, meaning these established roosts will be lost. While we've always valued having bats around, their presence behind the shutters has occasionally caused a bit of a challenge due to the mess they create on the public path directly below.
Production of at least one third of the world's food, including 87 of the 113 leading food crops, depends on pollination carried out by insects, bats and birds. The environmental services they provide is worth €170 billion per year.
~
IUCN - Securing the web of life, June 2012
A New Home
We have a perfect alternative to the old shutters for our bat residents: the wood chip storage silo for the heating system. This location at the monastery isn't a public space, offers great clearance, and is rarely disturbed, making it an ideal, secluded spot.
Even better, this new site boasts several key advantages:
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Excellent solar exposure, providing warmth.
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Four meters of unobstructed clearance under the roost entrances, allowing for easy flight.
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It's sheltered from commercial LED lights, minimizing disruption.
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The stone construction ensures good heat retention, creating a stable environment for the bats.
This new location provides an even better, safer home for our bats, ensuring their well-being for years to come.
