CULTURAL HERITAGE BUILDINGS AND SITES WHERE NATURAL DARKNESS IS PRESERVED FOR BAT CONSERVATION

(Bats and lighting of monumental buildings: EUROBATS Projects Initiative)

Artificial lighting of bat roost-sites, either internal and external, can have detrimental effects on bats occurring at the sites. Moreover it can constitute a violation of international legislation (Bern Convention, Habitats Directive) which forbids the disturbance of bats and the deterioration of their breeding sites or resting places, or (Agreement on the conservation of populations of European bats) require Parties to adopt effective measures for the same goal.
The maintenance of the conditions of natural darkness is of particular importance at roost sites represented by monumental buildings (castles, palaces, churches, towers, forts, ...) and other sites being part of our cultural heritage (necropolises, ancient aqueducts, ...). Thanks to the presence of rooms unused or rarely used by man, in the dark and with a microclimate consonant to bats, such sites often host colonies of bats of great conservation concern.
In the framework of the project Bats and lighting of monumental buildings (EUROBATS Projects Initiative, with financial support from France and Italy) conservation actions have been realized, aimed at maintaining or recreating natural dark conditions at monumental buildings used by important bat colonies in NW-Italy (Liguria, Piedmont and Aosta Valley). "Case studies" are described below.

We invite everybody who operates in countries which are Parties and/or Range States to the Agreement on the conservation of populations of European bats to submit to teriologi@libero.it other cases of buildings/sites belonging to cultural heritage where natural darkness is maintained or has been restored for the purpose of bat conservation. Each case represents an example of integrated protection of natural and cultural heritage which can be replicated elsewhere, amplifying its conservation value.
If the conservation of bats occurring at the sites is guaranteed by measures which effectively prevent anthropic access to the roosts we invite you to submit cases for publication in Part 1 (click here to find requested data), otherwise you can use Part 2 (click here to find requested data).

Part 1. Sites that can be published without risks for bat conservation

Aosta Cathedral (Aosta, Italy)

Isola Bella (Borromeo's palace and gardens) (Stresa, Verbania, Italy)

Fortress of Verrua Savoia (Verrua Savoia, Turin, Italy)

Castle of Aglié (Aglié, Turin, Italy)

Reggia of Venaria (Venaria Reale, Turin, Italy)

Staffarda Abbey (Revello, Cuneo, Italy)

Castle of Racconigi (Racconigi, Cuneo, Italy)

Part 2. Sites that cannot be identified in detail for conservation reasons

Church 1 (Province of Cuneo, Italy)

Church 2 (Province of Cuneo, Italy)

Church 3 (Province of Imperia, Italy)