Pipistrelle Bats Species Action Plan

The pipistrelle bats are one of twelve terrestrial mammals, classed as UK priority species requiring conservation action via national and local biodiversity action plans.  Until recently classed as one species, pipistrelles are now divided into two separate species on account of different physical and genetic characteristics. P. pipistrellus commonly called the Soprano (55khz) and P. pygmaeus, the bandit (45khz).  Both types are found in North Lanarkshire with the 55khz bat forming the largest colonies.  The most recent research suggests they have subtly different prey items and whilst the soprano pipistrelle is a more generalist bat the bandit type is strongly associated with water bodies.

Nathusius pipistrelle although never recorded in North Lanarkshire is found in adjacent Council areas e.g. Glasgow and there is therefore a need to survey and manage for this European winter visitor and sometime summer breeder.

Ecology and Habitat Requirements

Pipistrelles are Scotland's smallest and most common bat and the bat most associated with human habitation.

They hibernate in winter and roost primarily in summer in houses less than 30 years of age.  The females roost communally and typically only give birth each year to a single young.  This lifestyle makes pipistrelles very vulnerable to catastrophic local population crashes if their roosts are destroyed.

Pipistrelles are classified as species requiring a mosaic of habitats, and as such are excellent biological indicators of the health of a wide range of habitats.  Pipistrelles in Scotland are primarily found in river valleys, foraging over water and around trees.  Access to these feeding habitats from their urban roost sites is essential and is made possible by linear landscape features such as hedgelines and shelter belts, known as flyways.

Pipistrelles therefore require winter and summer roosts, wetland and water courses in good condition and a range of terrestrial habitats enabling safe foraging conditions.

National Status

• The most recent, pre breeding, combined pipistrelle species population estimate puts numbers at 2 million individuals, Harris 1995.

• National population figures have been estimated at declining by between 60-70% over the last two decades of the 20th century,  Stebbings 1998 and Harris 1995.

Local Status

• The two pipistrelles are present in North Lanarkshire and represent over 90% of all recorded roosts and 95% of bats encountered by householders.

• As they are the bats most likely to be encountered by householders and those responsible for the upkeep of housing stock, it is hoped that an improvement of bat PR and information would aid considerably in their protection and population increase.

• Due to the limited data set on the two species of pipistrelle there is no way of telling which bat is the most widespread or most common.

• There are no reliable population figures and an aim of this plan is to provide baseline data over the next five years.

Legal status

Pipistrelles are protected nationally by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Schedules 5 and 6, and under Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1994.  Internationally there are several obligations.  Firstly, the EC Habitat and Species Directive 1992, Annex IVa. The Bern Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, (Bonn 1980), including its agreement on the Conservation of Bats in Europe, (1991).

On a local level negative impact can be reduced by activities in accordance with NPPG14 Natural Heritage and PAN 60 Planning for Natural Heritage, Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1999 and via the Local Agenda 21/Biodiversity Action planning process.  For instance the presence of pipistrelles is a material consideration where a planning authority is considering a development proposal which would be likely to result in significant harm to the species.

2. Current factors causing loss or decline

3.  Current actions

4. LBAP objectives and targets

Objective		Target	Action
1	Maintain existing populations and range of pipistrelles in North Lanarkshire.	Ongoing	1-20
2	Achieve a 5% increase in the population of ppistrelles.	2010	1-10/11/ 12/14/15-20
3	Assist in the development and implementation of monitoring procedures for the identification of population trends.	2002	8/12/3/14/18/19
4	Identify different colonies and habitat preferences of the two species of pipstrelles.	2005	8/13/14/ 15/16/19
5	Improve public understanding and appreciation of bats.	Ongoing	1/3/8/9/10/11/ 12/13/14/15/17/18/19

4.  Proposed actions with lead agencies.

Policy and legislation

• Encourage water quality levels for aquatic insects (SEPA, SAC, FWAG, WoSW)
• Ensure the needs of the pipistrelles are included in RSS/WGS. Set aside etc. (FC, SERAD, SNH, SAC, FWAG, SWT).
• Ensure the needs of bats are fully considered in local development plans and policies. (NLC, SNH, SWT, CBG)

Site safeguard and management

• Encourage favourable management of land adjacent to known breeding sites to benefit foraging bats  (SNH, SWT, FC, CBG, SAC, FWAG, NLC).
• Ensure that development schemes do not affect the integrity of roost sites.  (NLC, SNH, SWT, CBG).
• Increase number of bat box schemes by 2003  (CSCT, SNH, NLC, FE, SWT, CBG).
• Survey for hibernacula and create two new sites a year by 2004  (CBG, SNH, SWT, NLC).
• Maintain current licensing procedures for bat workers and train up to 5 bat workers for NLC authority area by 2004  (CBG, BCT, SNH, NLC).
• Ensure that 100% of police wildlife liaison officers receive training related to bats by 2002  (CBG).
• Review 10% of SNH case work to assess the effectiveness of current management and protection policies and advice and amend if required  (SNH, CBG).

Advisory

• Develop best practice relationships with professionals whose activities could affect bats, e.g. vets, pest control firms, building industry arboriculturists, planners, professional contractors, developers and road engineers (NLC, SNH, CBG).
• Ensure that advice is available on conservation management of roosts and foraging habitats by 2002 (SNH, CBG).

Future research and monitoring

• Expand on effectiveness of CBG database for bat records, feed this onto relevant organisations by 2002 (SNH, NLC, CBG, BCT).
• Continue to assist in NBMP and new schemes as they become active and begin nathusius pipistrelle survey (CBG, BCT, NLC, SNH).
• Implement standard monitoring techniques to identify population changes at important roosts by 2002 (SNH, BCT, CBG).
• Distinguish between roosts of the two pipistrelles and provide data on habitat preferences by 2005 (CBG, SNH, BCT).

5.  Proposed action with lead agencies

Communication and publicity

• Maintain and build up a programme of publicity and educational activities aimed at Council departments, building trades, community groups, children, conservation organisations and arboriculturalists (CBG, SNH, BCT, NLC).
• Encourage agencies responsible for planning issues to develop GIS – by 2005 (NLC, SNH, BCT, CBG).
• Provide CBG with weekly planning lists and continue with support of the group (NLC, SNH).
• Ensure pipistrelle requirements are built into Habitat Action Plans as they are reviewed (All LBAP Partners).

References

• Harris, S et al 1995.  A review of British mammals JNCC
• Scottish Executive 2000.  Action for Scotland's Biodiversity
• Scottish Office 1998.  National Planning Policy Guidelines
• Stebbings R.E 1988  The conservation of bats in Europe IUCN

Acknowledgements

Plan written by Ian Cornforth, SWT and Clyde Bat Group.  January 2002.  Thanks to plans produced by Ian Davidson Watts, (English Nature), Keith Cohen, (Fife Bat Group) and BCT.

Abbreviations

• BCT Bat Conservation Trust
• CBG Clyde Bat Group
• FC Forestry Commission
• FE Forest Enterprise
• FWAG Farm and Wildlife Advisory Group
• HAP Habitat Action Plan.
• JNCC Joint Nature Conservancy Council
• NLC North Lanarkshire Council
• PAN Planning Advice Note
• SAC Scottish Agricultural College
• SAP Species Action Plan
• SEPA Scottish Environment Protection Agency
• SEERAD Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department
• SNH Scottish Natural Heritage
• SWT Scottish Wildlife Trust
• WACA Wildlife and Countryside Act
• WoSW West of Scotland Water