Public call

During the summer, bats often inhabit heritage buildings, especially attics, bell towers and other quiet spaces where females form maternity colonies. The presence of bats can place an additional burden on the owners of these buildings, and a system has been put in place to ensure the long-term protection of these roosts while providing support to the owners.

The system of permanent protection was developed by the partners ZRSVN, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning (MNVP) and the Centre for Cartography of Fauna and Flora (CKFF) in the LIFE Integrated Project for Enhanced Management of Nature 2000 in Slovenia (LIFE-IP NATURA.SI) project.The system was implemented by the partners ZRSVN, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning (MNVP) and the Centre for Cartography of Fauna and Flora (CKFF).

The call is aimed at owners and managers of cultural heritage buildings where major bat roosts are present. Participation in the scheme is voluntary and takes place through a Conservation Contract between the Slovenian Nature Conservation Agency and the owner/operator of the SAC. Owners commit themselves to maintaining the roosts, in return for which they receive an annual financial compensation.

More information on the call for proposals and the eligibility conditions is available on the ZRSVN website: Public call for the conservation of bat roosts in cultural heritage buildings - Zavod RS Za varstvo Nature and Natura 2000: A public call for conservation of bat roosts in cultural heritage buildings - NATURA2000.