bat survey winter

Third Edition of Bat Survey Guidelines Published

The long-awaited third edition of the bat survey guidelines has just been published following an extensive review process by a technical board representing all UK Statutory Nature Conservation Organisations, the Association of Local Government Ecologists, ecological consultants and a Local Planning Authority.

The third edition features new content and revised guidance, which includes:

–  Improved accessibility via a revised structure, index and increased use of cross-referencing;

– Incorporation of the latest legislation, licensing, policy and published research;

– A whole new chapter on bat surveys of trees;

– A whole new section on acoustic surveys at swarming sites;

– A whole new chapter on advanced licence survey techniques; and

– A whole new section on using statistics to analyse bat survey data

Due to the delay in publication of the National Bats and Wind Turbines Project report, there will be no wind farms chapter in this edition. The wind farms chapter from the second edition guidelines will stand until new guidelines are available for this project type.

On the first impression, the new guidance is a very comprehensive document and has tightened up in many of the flaws in the previous two editions.

For assistance with bat-related projects contact us on 029 2065 0331.