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| Australian National Bat Monitoring Program | |
|---|---|
| Name | Australian National Bat Monitoring Program |
| Abbreviation | ANBMP |
| Established | 2010s |
| Coordinator | Australian Bat Alliance |
| Region | Australia |
| Focus | Chiropteran monitoring, conservation, population trends |
Australian National Bat Monitoring Program The Australian National Bat Monitoring Program is a continent-wide initiative coordinating volunteers, researchers, and agencies to track bat populations across Australia. The program interfaces with conservation networks, state agencies, and research institutions to integrate acoustic monitoring, roost counts, and citizen science data into national biodiversity assessments. It informs species recovery plans, environmental policy processes, and international reporting obligations.
The program brings together stakeholders such as the Australian Bat Society, the Australian Museum, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, and state agencies including Parks Australia and the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. It aligns with national frameworks like the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and contributes to reporting under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Ramsar Convention. Partnerships include universities such as the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, and the University of Western Australia alongside NGOs like BirdLife Australia and the World Wildlife Fund Australia.
Origins trace to regional monitoring efforts pioneered by groups including the Australian Bat Society and research programs at institutions like the University of Queensland and the James Cook University. The program consolidated earlier projects sponsored by agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and initiatives linked to major surveys run by the Australian Museum and the Western Australian Museum. Major milestones involved coordination workshops hosted by the Australian Government and funded projects by entities such as the Australian Research Council and philanthropic partners like the Ian Potter Foundation.
Primary objectives mirror conservation priorities in documents from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee and the IUCN Red List processes implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Methodology synthesizes approaches developed at research centres such as the CSIRO, the Australian National University, and the Griffith University: standardized acoustic survey protocols using detectors promoted by manufacturers adopted in protocols from the Bat Conservation International and roost monitoring techniques influenced by studies at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Citizen science components draw on platforms and practices from organisations like Atlas of Living Australia, Zooniverse, and regional museum networks.
Data collection integrates acoustic recordings using ultrasonic detectors from firms used in projects by the Australian Museum and analytic workflows developed at the University of New South Wales, the Macquarie University, and the University of Adelaide. Roost counts and emergence surveys follow guidelines established by practitioners at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and the Queensland Museum. Analysis pipelines use statistical methods common to ecology groups at the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science and software tools inspired by projects at the Atlas of Living Australia and the National Computational Infrastructure. Data contribute to national datasets curated by the Atlas of Living Australia and inform assessments presented to bodies like the Threatened Species Scientific Committee.
Governance involves a steering group with representatives from the Australian Bat Society, state environment departments including the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and the Department of Environment and Science (Queensland), and research institutions such as the University of Tasmania. Funding streams have included grants from the Australian Research Council, cooperative funding from state agencies, project support by philanthropic organisations like the Myer Foundation, and in-kind contributions from museums and universities including the Australian Museum and the Western Australian Museum.
The program has produced trend analyses that inform listings under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and conservation advice for taxa evaluated against the IUCN Red List. Results have highlighted population declines and distribution shifts for taxa monitored by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee and species assessed in regional action plans like those for Victoria and Queensland. Outcomes influenced management actions at protected areas overseen by Parks Australia and recovery planning coordinated with agencies such as the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Challenges include standardizing acoustic classification across tools used by groups like Bat Conservation International and addressing gaps in coverage across regions such as the Northern Territory and remote parts of Western Australia. Future directions emphasize integration with national biodiversity initiatives coordinated by the Atlas of Living Australia, leveraging computational resources at the National Computational Infrastructure, and strengthening links with forecasting research from the CSIRO and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Expanding training through universities including the Australian National University and securing sustained funding from sources such as the Australian Research Council and philanthropic partners remain priorities.
Category:Wildlife monitoring in Australia