Making a Splash on the International Stage

At COP16 in Cali, Colombia, BCI played a pivotal role in aligning bat conservation efforts with global sustainability goals.

“BCI staff broadened our network of conservation-focused groups and potential project partners,” says BCI Chief Scientist Winifred Frick, Ph.D.

BCI organized its first-ever side event at COP16, titled “How Bat Conservation Contributes to Global Biodiversity and Sustainable Development Goals.” This presentation underscored bats’ essential contributions to ecosystems and the pressing need to integrate local communities into conservation initiatives.

“BCI brings a unique expertise by being the only global NGO with a focus on bats,” says BCI Chief of Strategic Partnerships Mylea Bayless, who presented alongside Frick. “Our approach to species conservation emphasizes the co-benefits to people and the importance of including local communities in conservation efforts.”

Additionally, the event highlighted the intersections of bat conservation with the UN’s biodiversity framework and Sustainable Development Goals. This type of engagement is critical for ensuring bats are included in broader conservation dialogues, particularly given the biodiversity crisis’s global scale.

“The scale of the biodiversity crisis is global, and the response requires global collaboration and networks of conservation practitioners, scientists, governments, and local communities all working together,” Frick says.

In late 2024, BCI also attended the 52nd NASBR symposium, an annual gathering of bat researchers in North America. This event is a hub for cutting-edge bat research, and BCI’s contributions included the practical application of scientific findings to conservation challenges.

“BCI contributes to conservation science and works with the bat research community to emphasize the ways that scientific research can solve data gaps and deliver conservation outcomes for bats,” Frick says.

Highlights included discussions on mitigating risks from wind energy development—an issue Frick also recently spoke about at the COP14 Convention of Migratory Species in Uzbekistan in early 2024.

In September, BCI traveled to Tarragona in Catalonia, Spain, to attend the European Bat Research Symposium. It was the first time BCI has had a presence at the symposium, which included a plenary talk by Frick, as well as a special session on conservation organizations by BCI Director of Conservation Evidence Teague O’Mara, Ph.D. BCI’s participation in EBRS contributes to a further exchange of learning with European and global research partners.

These international events underscore the essential role BCI plays in bringing bats to the forefront of biodiversity discussions. By participating in forums like COP16, EBRS, and NASBR, BCI strengthens its global network and ensures that bats remain integral to conservation strategies.

“Participating in these events showcases BCI’s work and commitment to being a science-based organization dedicated to solving global conservation issues,” Frick says.

As BCI looks toward future meetings, including the next NASBR symposium and upcoming biodiversity conferences, its focus remains clear: fostering collaboration, advancing research, and driving impactful conservation efforts.