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PROGRESS REPORT 2012
Implementing the International Bat Year action plan in the Republic of Belarus	

The 2012 International Bat Year Action Plan was implemented with the aim of identifying and preserving bat habitats and educated the public on the need for bat conservation. 
The action plan included the following activities.
Field surveys of bat breeding, migration and wintering colonies were performed in 28 administrative districts of all six sub-national administrative units (Oblasts). Some 128 new bat colonies have been identified through this work.
Ten bat habitat areas have been surveyed, and another 18 areas have been identified as potential bat habitats ad conservation areas. 
Surveys have been conducted of the habitats of four new flat-faced bat species listed in the Red Data Book of Belarus. These are located in the territories of the nature reserves "Sporauski", "Vyhanashchanski", "Stronga", "Siarednyaya Prypiats" and "Almanskiya Balota".
Several national and international bat year events were conducted throughout 2012, including:
•	"Wildlife Moments" photographic exhibition dedicated to the International Bat Year;
•	A series of painting and public education materials contests on the role of bats in nature, titled "those enigmatic bats".
•	Autumn bat watching sessions; 
•	General interest lecture and guided tour titled "the amazing world of the bats"
•	Public demonstration of modern bat watching techniques, including with the use of ultrasound;
•	Presentations on bats at the APB - BirdLife Belarus - sponsored events "Wildlife Thursday", "Interesting facts about bats".
•	Regional research and practitioner workshop "Bats in Brest Oblast - a European Bat Night";
•	On-site workshop "My homeland", with a visit to the Barbastella Wildlife Reserve;
•	International workshop "Nocturnal Guardians of the Crops";
•	International workshops "Bats in Belarus - Research and Protection". Participants included 20 researchers and activists makers from Belarus, Ukraine and the Netherlands.
Support was provided to participation of seven researchers in the national workshop on bat conservation in Belarus organised in Valozhin District.
As a part of the campaign "Bats in my city", eight bat rescue and rehabilitation operations were conducted; 15 distressed animals of six different species have been salvaged and relocated to the Barbastella Reserve.
Twelve guided tours have been organised to the Brest local reserve “Barbastella”; the tour programme included demonstration of ultrasound bat detectors for use by researchers, students, wildlife watchers, and schoolchildren.
Bat conservation activities were included in the programme of the annual research field trip "Palessye Wildlife Tour - 2012". 
Public information and education activities have been carried out by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental protection in partnership with researchers. The focus was on the conservation of bat colonies in residential buildings. This included the drafting and posting on the official web sites of the
•	Ministry of Environment and APB - BirdLife Belarus of the following materials: "Dealing with bats in residential building" and "Removing a bat from your flat". 
•	The informational and educational activities also concerned prevention of problem situations involving humans and bats. Such activities have taken place in more than 26 communities.