Bats – Methodology for Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assess- Ment
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BATS METHODOLOGY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT A manual for developers, environmental experts and planning authorities National Museum of Natural History – BAS BATS METHODOLOGY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT A manual for developers, environmental experts and planning authorities National Museum of Natural History – BAS 2008 Sofia This methodology is issued under the project «Bats and Environmental Impact Assessment: Tools for implementation of European Habitat Directive and EUROBATS Agreement in Bulgaria and Romania» carried by the National Museum of Natural History at the Bulgarian Academy of Science (NMNH-BAS), the Romanian Bat Protection Association and the Dutch Mammal Study and Protection Society (VZZ) and funded by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality through the action plan of BBI MATRA (2007–2008). Author: Boyan P. Petrov (National Museum of Natural History – Bulgarian Academy of Science) The table «Procedures for EIA and AA as they relate to bats» was prepared by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivan Pandourski (Institute of Zoology – Bulgarian Academy of Science) Consultants: Eric Jansen, Herman Limpens (Dutch Mammal Study and Protection Society VZZ) Editors: Svetlana Miteva, Radostina Tzenova English translation: Teodora Valkova Proof reading: Nicholas Parrott – TextualHealing <[email protected]> Prepress: Lyubomir Andreev Printing: NEO Art Silistra The photos included in this manual were mostly taken by Boyan Petrov, with others taken by Stoyan Beshkov, Nikolay Treyman, Elena Tilova, Kiril Metodiev, Slaveya Stoycheva and Teodora Ivanova. The drawings on page 53 and 54 were taken from the Dutch brochure «Bats and road construction» (Rijkswaterstaat – Dienst Weg- en Waterkunde, 2005), with the consent of its author – Peter Twisk. Recommended citation: PETROV B. 2008. Bats – methodology for environmental impact assessment and appropriate assess- ment. A manual for developers, environmental experts and planning authorities. National Museum of Natural History-BAS, 88 p. ISBN: 978–954–8828–05–5 All rights reserved. National Museum of Natural History - BAS © 2008 CONTENTS Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 7 PRACTICAL SECTION Procedures for EIA and Appropriate Assessment as they relate to bats................................. 10 Checklists for evaluating EIA and АA reports as they relate to bats....................................... 14 International legislation on conservation of species and habitats............................................ 18 The Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats............ 18 The Bonn Convention of Migratory Species of Wild Animals.................................................. 18 Agreement on the Conservation of Populations of European Bats......................................... 19 Directive92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Flora and Fauna........ 20 National legislation on environmental impact assessment and appropriate assessment........ 21 Environmental Protection Act .................................................................................................. 21 Regulation on the terms and procedure for Assessment of Environmental Impact................. 21 Regulation N1 on the public register of experts for EIA.......................................................... 21 Regulation on the appropriate assessment............................................................................ 22 Forestry Act.................................................................................................................................. 22 Hunting and Game Protection Act......................................................................................... 22 National legislation on conservation of species and habitats.................................................. 24 Biodiversity Act...................................................................................................................... 24 Protected Areas Act.............................................................................................................. 26 Tariff of indemnities for caused damages.............................................................................. 26 National Biodiversity Monitoring System................................................................................ 29 EXPERT SECTION The features of bats.............................................................................................................. 32 Roosts................................................................................................................................... 33 Life cycle.............................................................................................................................. 34 Food and foraging................................................................................................................. 34 Echolocation......................................................................................................................... 35 The impact of human activities on bat populations................................................................ 36 Methods for Bat Research.......................................................................................................... 37 Analysis of existing information – bibliographic references…………….....................……….……… 38 Field visits and bat census…………………………………………….............................…………….............… 38 Mist-nets and traps for bats………………………………............…………...……………………..................…. 39 Ultrasound detection……………………………………………………………………………...............................… 40 Radiotelemetry…………………………………….…………………………………………….................................... 41 Genetic and molecular methods………………………………………………...……………………................... 42 Health and safety risks............................................................................................................... 42 Projects and plans subject to EIA or to coordination with RIEW/MEW and which affect bats.................................................................................................................. 43 Management of underground habitats........................................................................................ 43 Installation of gates and grills at entrances............................................................................ 44 Abandoned mine galleries..................................................................................................... 46 Underground water catchments............................................................................................. 47 Show caves........................................................................................................................... 48 New cave development projects............................................................................................ 50 Use of caves for business purposes...................................................................................... 51 Road construction........................................................................................................................53 Bats and wind turbines............................................................................................................... 56 Opening and expanding quarries and concessions................................................................... 62 Bats in Bulgarian settlements..................................................................................................... 63 Renovation of historical buildings with bat roosts – recommended practices.......................... 65 Forest management – recommended practices........................................................................... 66 Selected References.................................................................................................................... 70 Glossary of bat terms................................................................................................................. 73 Annexes........................................................................................................................................ 74 3 CONTENTS ANNEXES Annex 1 Contacts with RIEW, departments of national parks and basin departments............................. 74 Annex 2 NGOs with expertise in studying and protecting bats in Bulgaria................................................. 75 Annex 3 Species composition, distribution and roosting requirements of bats in Bulgaria and methods of studying them................................................................................................................. 76 Annex 4 Species composition of bats in the main types of habitats in Bulgaria, and the periods and methods of studying them................................................................................. 80 Annex 5 Applicability of the study techniques for bat assessments during different periods................ 82 Annex 6 List of important bat caves and mine galleries in Bulgaria that are subject to monitoring under the National Biodiversity Monitoring System............................................................................ 83 Annex 7 General scoring system for assessing the bat potential of a site.................................................