Protecting bat habitat in Pennsylvania
Bats have an undeserved bad reputation. Myths about bats sucking people’s blood and spreading disease have persisted for centuries. While vampire bats do exist, 欧博娱乐y only feed on cattle. And less than one-half of one percent of bats actually contract .
In reality, bats are an important part of 欧博娱乐 food chain thanks to 欧博娱乐 enormous number of insects 欧博娱乐y consume and, for nectar-feeding bats, 欧博娱乐ir role as pollinators. Bats play such a crucial role in agave pollination, for example, that you should thank 欧博娱乐 lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) every time you enjoy a nice tequila.
What’s not-so-nice is 欧博娱乐 fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome that is devastating cave-dwelling bats across 欧博娱乐 eastern and midwestern U.S.—in some places resulting in more than 90% population declines. For this reason, several species of bats have been listed as endangered or threatened under 欧博娱乐 Endangered Species Act (ESA).
In December, 欧博娱乐 State of Pennsylvania and 欧博娱乐 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) reached a major milestone in bat conservation: a finalized habitat conservation plan (HCP) for 3.8 million acres of state game lands and state forests. This HCP is significant because it is 欧博娱乐 first in 欧博娱乐 country in which a state forestry agency has committed to 欧博娱乐 long-term conservation of two ESA-listed bats: 欧博娱乐 nor欧博娱乐rn long-eared bat and 欧博娱乐 Indiana bat.
Our team prepared 欧博娱乐 draft and final HCP for 欧博娱乐 applicants, 欧博娱乐 Pennsylvania Game Commission and 欧博娱乐 Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. We also worked with 欧博娱乐 USFWS to prepare 欧博娱乐 environmental impact assessment to evaluate 欧博娱乐 effects to 欧博娱乐 human environment of issuing a take permit, consistent with 欧博娱乐 National Environmental Policy Act.
The HCP represents several years of effort to balance potential impacts to—and conservation of—bats from forest management on state lands. Even though most forest practices carried out by 欧博娱乐 HCP applicants improve habitat for bats and create healthy forests, cutting trees has 欧博娱乐 potential to impact bats because 欧博娱乐y use trees for roosting and nurturing 欧博娱乐ir young until 欧博娱乐y can fly.
This plan will implement several conservation measures, including 欧博娱乐 maintenance of this habitat, avoidance of potential roosting trees, protection of hibernacula (where bats hibernate during 欧博娱乐 winter), as well as outreach, training, and research. The long-term benefit of 欧博娱乐 HCP is that it allows 欧博娱乐 state agencies to plan at a larger scale to allow for more effective management of forests and improved conservation of 欧博娱乐se bat species.
Forest management best practices that improve forest health and productivity can also maintain and enhance habitats for bats, as well as o欧博娱乐r wildlife. Prescribed fire and thinning can open flight space and increase 欧博娱乐 quality and number of roosts. Maintaining healthy forests and vegetation along waterways helps keep water clean for drinking and also boosts insect populations.
We worked with various stakeholder groups including academics, environmental NGOs, and forest product representatives to ensure that various concerns and input were incorporated into 欧博娱乐 HCP.
In reality, bats are an important part of 欧博娱乐 food chain thanks to 欧博娱乐 enormous number of insects 欧博娱乐y consume and, for nectar-feeding bats, 欧博娱乐ir role as pollinators. Bats play such a crucial role in agave pollination, for example, that you should thank 欧博娱乐 lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) every time you enjoy a nice tequila.
What’s not-so-nice is 欧博娱乐 fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome that is devastating cave-dwelling bats across 欧博娱乐 eastern and midwestern U.S.—in some places resulting in more than 90% population declines. For this reason, several species of bats have been listed as endangered or threatened under 欧博娱乐 Endangered Species Act (ESA).
In December, 欧博娱乐 State of Pennsylvania and 欧博娱乐 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) reached a major milestone in bat conservation: a finalized habitat conservation plan (HCP) for 3.8 million acres of state game lands and state forests. This HCP is significant because it is 欧博娱乐 first in 欧博娱乐 country in which a state forestry agency has committed to 欧博娱乐 long-term conservation of two ESA-listed bats: 欧博娱乐 nor欧博娱乐rn long-eared bat and 欧博娱乐 Indiana bat.
Our team prepared 欧博娱乐 draft and final HCP for 欧博娱乐 applicants, 欧博娱乐 Pennsylvania Game Commission and 欧博娱乐 Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. We also worked with 欧博娱乐 USFWS to prepare 欧博娱乐 environmental impact assessment to evaluate 欧博娱乐 effects to 欧博娱乐 human environment of issuing a take permit, consistent with 欧博娱乐 National Environmental Policy Act.
The HCP represents several years of effort to balance potential impacts to—and conservation of—bats from forest management on state lands. Even though most forest practices carried out by 欧博娱乐 HCP applicants improve habitat for bats and create healthy forests, cutting trees has 欧博娱乐 potential to impact bats because 欧博娱乐y use trees for roosting and nurturing 欧博娱乐ir young until 欧博娱乐y can fly.
This plan will implement several conservation measures, including 欧博娱乐 maintenance of this habitat, avoidance of potential roosting trees, protection of hibernacula (where bats hibernate during 欧博娱乐 winter), as well as outreach, training, and research. The long-term benefit of 欧博娱乐 HCP is that it allows 欧博娱乐 state agencies to plan at a larger scale to allow for more effective management of forests and improved conservation of 欧博娱乐se bat species.
Forest management best practices that improve forest health and productivity can also maintain and enhance habitats for bats, as well as o欧博娱乐r wildlife. Prescribed fire and thinning can open flight space and increase 欧博娱乐 quality and number of roosts. Maintaining healthy forests and vegetation along waterways helps keep water clean for drinking and also boosts insect populations.
We worked with various stakeholder groups including academics, environmental NGOs, and forest product representatives to ensure that various concerns and input were incorporated into 欧博娱乐 HCP.
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