Michael Abedi-Lartey Max Planck Institute of Ornithology Ghana “Finally, an African-led concerted action on using bat conservation as a platform for sustainable environmental action.”

Participants in the African Bat Conservation Summit are pictured holding copies of Ecological & Behavioral Methods for the Study of Bats, 2nd edition, by Thomas H. Kunz and Stuart Parsons. The Summit was the perfect opportunity for BCI to distribute more than 30 copies of this indispensable resource to aid bat conservation efforts across the African continent.

BAT CONSERVATION AFRICA! A POWERFUL NEW NETWORK FOR BAT CONSERVATION

Bat Conservation Africa was launched in Naivasha, Kenya on February 15, 2013 at the first-ever African Bat Conservation Summit – marking a new era for bat conservation on the African continent! After an intense, week-long summit, 42 dedicated and enthusiastic conservationists, including 30 from 19 African countries and the West Indian Ocean islands, succeeded in achieving this hallmark milestone! “Africa is a crucial frontier for bat conservation,” said Andrew Walker, BCI’s Executive Director, who attended the Summit. “It is home to over 20 percent of the world’s more than 1,250 bat species, yet bats have been largely ignored in favor of Africa’s more charismatic megafauna – the lions and elephants that intrigue the public. But the commitment and enthusiasm of the conservationists at this Summit

Peter Taylor, Ph.D. Univeristy of Venda South Africa

“After 20 years of talking about such an African network – this is a dream come true.”

promise a much brighter future for Africa’s bats, and we are proud that BCI is a partner in such an amazing endeavor.” The Summit opened with tremendous energy, as participants gained a common understanding of the challenges to successful bat conservation and the threats to bats across Africa. Some of the common challenges include:

• A general lack bat conservation expertise in many countries, • A lack of equipment (bat detectors, mist nets, harp traps) and technical training to use them, • Limited availability of literature, identification keys, manuals, and information on African bats, • A lack of consistent funding for bat conservation, research, and education, • Low levels of grant writing expertise needed to generate long-term sustainable funding, • A failure of senior scientists to encourage junior colleagues in bat conservation and even a

suppression of on-the-ground scientists by superiors, and • A widespread absence of bat conservation priorities in governmental policies.

It rapidly became apparent that bats in Africa are under-studied, underappreciated, and under severe threat, despite their provision of essential ecological services across the continent. Bat populations are battered by loss of habitat and water resources, disturbances of crucial roosts, and, in some areas, by bush-meat hunting. Unfortunately, needless fears fed by long-standing myths and misinformation greatly complicate their conservation. Also present at the Summit were bat conservation experts from around the world who shared their invaluable insights and expertise into the design and function of a possible network for Africa. These experts represented four models for regional bat conservation networks currently in existence: • Australasian Bat Society (ABS), • South East Asian Bat Conservation and Research Unit (SEABCRU), • Chiroptera Conservation and Information Network of South Asia (CCINSA), and • Latin American Bat Conservation Network (RELCOM).

Then the hard work began – moving from individual ideas to a common vision for a

bat conservation network in Africa! Small breakout groups fostered effective discussions and yielded four possible models that could work for Africa. When the four groups reconvened and shared their respective ideas, it was readily apparent that all groups had developed visions for a network in Africa that were distinctly African, not simply adaptations of the models from other parts of the world. And, as we had hoped, there were many common ideas shared among the four groups. The next step - finding agreement where differences existed.

The network began to take shape when the group confirmed that the entire African continent and the islands of the West Indian Ocean should be included in the network. Participants also determined that the network would be governed by a steering committee with representatives from each region:

• Eastern Africa: Robert Kityo, Chair, from Uganda (center) • Western Africa: Iroro Tanshi, Vice Chair, from Nigeria

(2nd from right) • Central Africa: Eric Bakwo, from Cameroon (far right) • Southern Africa: Ernest Seamark, from South Africa (2nd

from left) • West Indian Ocean islands: Julie Razafimanahaka, from

Madagascar (far left) • Northern Africa: vacant

The goals of the network include:

• Expanding the level of expertise and numbers of people working for bat conservation in Africa through capacity building,

• Raising the awareness of the public and others about the value of bats, • Educating decision makers about the value of bats to catalyze policy change, • Building links among individuals and groups working with bats, • Facilitating information sharing and galvanizing critical research

Summit participants identified communication within the network as a critical issue, and they have already started to address this need. Ernest Seamark, Executive Director of AfricanBats, offered use of its existing newsletter, “African Bat Conservation News” (www.africanbats.org/Africanbats/ABCN.htm), to the network to serve as its regular e-newsletter, and the network accepted this generous offer. In the coming months, small ad hoc committees will be established to address additional specific needs of the network as they are identified. Two such committees have already been confirmed: Julie Razafimanahaka will lead the drafting of network governance plans, to be approved by the network membership in the coming months; and Ernest Seamark will lead a group focused on developing a website for Bat Conservation Africa, which will be the primary communication mechanism for the network to the rest of the world. Other actions are underway to build upon the momentum started at the Summit. BCI will remain closely involved in a supportive and collaborative role with the new network, but the success of the Summit and of Bat Conservation Africa ultimately rests in the hands of the network itself. Launched through open, professional, collaborative, and trusting relationships among some of the most qualified and highly-motivated bat conservationists in Africa, this new cooperative body is sure to blossom. BCI has great faith in the network’s leadership and in all of its current and future members.

Ara Monadjem, Ph.D. Univeristy of Swaziland, Swaziland

“This workshop was different as the energy of the participants will ensure this network remains alive and grows.”

Soon, Africa will be known as one of the world’s top regions for bat conservation success, and not simply for its famed “Big 5.” By recognizing the importance of conserving some of its smallest mammals – bats, whose contributions to the health of ecosystems are extremely disproportionate to their body size, conservation in Africa will take one giant leap forward!

The Summit was made possible with generous support from the following:

Beneficia Foundation, Island Foundation, The Brown Foundation Inc. of Houston, two anonymous donors, and of course the members and staff of Bat Conservation International

Thanks to our Steering Committee for planning the Summit! Dave Waldien, Ph.D. (BCI, United States), Paul Racey, Ph.D. (University of Exeter in Cornwall, United Kingdom), Paul Webala, Ph.D. (Karatina University College, Kenya), Ara Monadjem, Ph.D. (University of Swaziland, Swaziland), Jakob Fahr, Ph.D. (Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Germany), Cullen Geiselman, Ph.D. (BCI Board of Directors, United States), Julie Razafimanahaka (Madagasikara Voakajy, Madagascar)

Impressions from the group

Malika Kangoyé University of Ouagadougou Burkina Faso A beautiful look for bats in Africa (Un beau regard pour les chauves-souris en Afrique).

Eric Bakwo University of Maroua Cameroon This was a wonderful and fruitful event which will help to build a network to conserve bats in our continent.

Prince Kaleme Research Instituyte DR Congo This has boosted my interest and has made me keen to take new opportunities for research and conservation of bats.

Guy-Crispin Tungaluna Université de Kisangani DR Congo The African Bat Summit was an opportunity to safeguard bats in the DRC. Congolese people working with bats are rare and the new BCA network will help advance the training of young researchers, to distribute the results of our research in the world, and contribute to bats being accounted for in sustainable forest management of the DRC.

Ken Cameron Wildlife Conservation Society Republic of the Congo This has been such a collaborative and cooperative experience, resulting in an unprecedented opportunity for bat conservation in Africa. Congratulations to both the organizers and the participants.

Mamady Kobélé Keita Guinea Ecologie Guinea This summit has been the first time African bat friends could meet to network and develop common projects. This is just excellent for any bat conservation project within the continent. Well done.

David Wechuli University of Eldoret Kenya The summit presented a unique opportunity to lay a solid foundation tcreate mutual relationships, and in due course embrace conservation actions through education and research.

Bernard Agwanda National Museums of Kenya Kenya It was great meeting dedicated bat staff. Despite my limited time with you last week, my heart is fully committed to Bat Conservation Africa.

Simon Musila National Museums of Kenya Kenya It was awesome and I learned a lot. To me it was good to meet many people from BCI, Europe and Africa that I have only read about but had never seen or met.

Ruth Makena National Museums of Kenya Kenya It has been a learning experience.

Paul Webala Karatina University College Kenya BCA will be a single voice to all bat conservation matters across Africa and through its concerted efforts will help raise the profile of bat conservation to the pedestal of so called charismatic “big 5. I really look forward to all the initiatives, opportunities and collaborations that will emerge from it.

Jerry Garteh Society for the Conservation of Nature in Liberia Liberia The summit linked Africa and gave renewed hope to bat conservation.

Julie Razafimanahaka Madagasikara Voakajy Madagascar Excellent, challenging, the Summit was an opportunity to meet, develop partnerships and look for a better future for African conservationists.

Vikash Tatayah Mauritian Wildlife Foundation Mauritius I never imagined that Africa had such talented and passionate bat researchers and the congress made me realize that African bats have their champions.

Iroro Tanshi University of Benin Nigeria I feel greatly honored to have been part of this historic event and I am convinced and optimistic that this summit will have a domino effect on bat research and conservation in Africa.

Adeyanju Adeniyi Taiye University of Ibadan Nigeria African potential in the conservation of chiroptera is breaking loose!

Seth Eiseb University of Namibia Namibia Finally, bats in Africa are getting the attention that they deserve.

Julius Nziza USAID/PREDICT Rwanda This was very interactive and educational, and a milestone for bat conservation efforts in Africa.

Nicolas Ntare Wildlife Conservation Society Rwanda It was a pleasure to sit together and make such a commitment for bat conservation in Africa.

Teresa Kearney Ditsong National Museum of Natural History South Africa Such a positive experience to work with such a diverse group of people who all share a passion to conserve Africa's bats.

Wanda Markotter University of Pretoria South Africa The Summit was instrumental to bring people from different disciplines together to succeed in one aim - Conservation of bats.

Ernest Seamark AfrianBats South Africa Challenging times ahead, but also very exciting with the launch of Bat Conservation Africa (BCA).

Hassan Babiker University of Juba South Sudan The Summit has been inspirational for me as an African participant, and I have learned more about different ways of how to approach day-to-day conservation issues concerning bats in Africa.

Kim Howell University of Dar es Salaam Tanzania The summit served to draw diverse specialists together and to connect countries in such a way that they will better be able to share skills and information as they move towards their goal of conserving bats.

Robert Kityo Makerere University Uganda This was a wonderful and well spent week away from the heaviness of routine work with so many nice people all out here for the cause of BATS. Let us grow Bat Conservation Africa.

Moses Chibesa The Copperbelt University Zambia 2013 African Bat Conservation Summit - a new light to revive bat conservation in Zambia and Africa as a continent.

Kyle Armstrong The University of Adelaide Australia The Summit has been a tremendously inclusive and friendly experience, and the new Bat Conservation Africa network has already achieved so much on its first day.

Bernal Rodriguez Universidad de Costa Rica and Reserva Biológica Tirimbina Costa Rica This summit was a very diverse group of people, who despite their differences (language, age, history, religion, politics, etc.) worked with clarity and enthusiasm for conservation in Africa.

Jakob Fahr Max Planck Institute for Ornithology Germany Bat Conservation Africa has every potential to make a real difference for the conservation of bats on the continent, and to empower the community of bat researchers in Africa in an unprecedented way.

Rodrigo Medellin Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Mexico The summit was an extraordinary happening. This event will go down in history as Africa's confirmation of its commitment to conservation and an example of local leaders standing up to the challenge and achieving success.

Paul Racey University of Exeter in Cornwall United Kingdom What had appeared to an outside observer to be a conservation void turns out not to have been a void at all because of the enthusiasm of individuals like these for bat research and conservation in many African countries. From little acorns very big trees can grow. We must ensure that this acorn [Bat Conservation Africa] germinates and is nursed to maturity.

Paul Bates Harrison Institute United Kingdom A week of brainstorming, passion and participation leading to the birth of a new era for African bat research and conservation.

Bruce Patterson The Field Museum of Natural History United States Researchers and managers who have worked in isolation on African bats can use the network to access remote expertise, resources, and shared experiences, building both capability and capacity.

Dave Waldien Bat Conservation International United States When we started planning the summit we knew it would be something special. I am left wondering if any of us knew beforehand the true significance of what we were undertaking and that by the end of a week we would successfully launch a network for the conservation of Africa's bats.

Chris Woodruff Bat Conservation International United States This Summit was a perfect example of the power of communication and collaboration. We started the week as a group of researchers and conservationists largely working in isolation, but we ended the Summit as members of an inclusive network, connected by our shared mission to forever elevate the status of bat conservation in Africa.

Bob Locke Bat Conservation International United States I feel like I witnessed something historic in Naivasha and was honored to have a small part in it. The shared enthusiasm and commitment in that room leaves me with no doubt that this ambitious plan will succeed.

Cullen Geiselman Board - Bat Conservation International United States It was thrilling to witness such a diverse and innovative group work together to devise and launch Bat Conservation Africa. This network of dedicated bat workers opens a new chapter for bat conservation in Africa.

Andrew Walker Bat Conservation International United States Bats are under mounting pressure in Africa, as they are around the globe. It's only through continent-wide research and conservation networks like Bat Conservation Africa that we stand a chance of preserving the full array of bat species and their critical habitats. It was exciting being in Kenya for the creation of this historic network.