Bat Conservation International, Inc. (BCI) is a non-profit organization that works to conserve bats and their habitats worldwide. BCI was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas. BCI has a team of over 30 employees and a network of over 9,000 members.
BCI’s conservation work spans six continents, with primary concentration in North America, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. BCI’s methods include on-the-ground conservation projects, targeted education to decision makers and the general public, and promotion of research into priority bat-related topics.
BCI is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s leading authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. BCI is also a member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC), which is the world’s largest network of scientists and conservation practitioners working to conserve biodiversity.
BCI’s work with IUCN is focused on three main areas:
- Assessment and monitoring: BCI works with IUCN to assess the status of bat populations and habitats, and to develop and implement monitoring programs.
- Conservation planning: BCI works with IUCN to develop and implement conservation plans for bat species and habitats.
- Capacity building: BCI works with IUCN to build the capacity of bat conservationists around the world.
BCI’s work with IUCN is essential to the conservation of bats. IUCN’s global reach and expertise allows BCI to reach a wider audience and to have a greater impact on bat conservation. Together, BCI and IUCN are working to ensure a future for bats.
Here are some specific examples of BCI’s work with IUCN:
- BCI and IUCN have worked together to develop the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, which is the world’s most comprehensive assessment of the conservation status of plants and animals.
- BCI and IUCN have worked together to develop the IUCN Bat Action Plan, which is a global strategy for the conservation of bats.
- BCI and IUCN have worked together to implement conservation projects for bats in over 30 countries around the world.
BCI’s work with IUCN is making a real difference for bats. Thanks to the collaboration of these two organizations, bats are better protected and their habitats are more secure.
