Bonn, 14 August 2007: After controversial discussions during which UNESCO threatened to withdraw the title of world heritage site from the Elbe Valley, conservationists have now intervened on behalf of the Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros). Where the cultural heritage has failed, the world’s natural heritage has succeeded in halting the construction of the new bridge.

Only 450 individuals of this species live in Saxony making up nearly half of the population in Germany. The bats feed and reproduce in the Elbe Valley near Dresden and other adjacent valleys. Their habitat would suffer a severe impact from noise pollution.

UNEP/EUROBATS addresses conservation concerns of European populations of bats. Being the only species to control numbers of night active insects, bats play a crucial role in ecosystems. Although bats are not hunted by predators, they are exposed to human induced threats: chemical pollution used in agriculture and habitat degradation as a result of construction projects and clearing of forests.

EUROBATS’ Executive Secretary, Andreas Streit, emphasizes the need of taking nature conservation measures into consideration when it comes to major construction projects: “Developing infrastructure and ensuring sustainable nature protection do not necessarily contradict each other. However, the needs of animal species must be considered well in advance and alternative areas set aside for nature reserves. ”

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