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Bats in the Biosphere Reserve Wienerwald: Children and Youths active in research and species protection

Project Leader: Brandenburg Christiane, BOKU Project Leader

Duration:: 15.09.2010-21.03.2012

Type of Research: Applied Research

Project partners: Österreichische Bundesforste AG, Unternehmensleitung, Pummergasse 10-12, 3002 Purkersdorf, Austria.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner

Staff: Allex Brigitte, Project Staff (bis 30.09.2021)

BOKU Research Units: Institute for Landscape Development, Recreation and Conservation Planning

Funded by: Austrian Research Promotion Agency, Sensengasse 1, 1090 Wien, Austria

Abstract: Bats in the Biosphere Reserve Wienerwald – Children and young people active in research and species protection
In the course of guided forest tours and excursions in the region the increase of deficits among children concerning their knowledge of native wild animals has become clear. There is hardly any other group of animals which evokes such different reactions – reaching from fascination to disgust – as bats. The acceptance by the population, however, is an important factor of success for protection efforts in favour of the largely endangered bat species. As the negative image of the animals is primarily a result of unfounded prejudices, numerous activities for knowledge transfer are set by educational as well as business partners within the project. It is the task of the Institute of Landscape Development, Recreation and Conservation Planning to conduct a survey on the current state of knowledge of bats among children and young people and supervise their photographic documentation of bat dwellings. Following the survey, numerous activities and excursions will be offered in the six participating schools in order to increase the knowledge and awareness of bats. These will include recording and presenting bat dwellings, building replacement dwellings and watching bats. For these purposes, latest techniques (ultrasound detectors, GPS and GIS) will be applied. It is aimed to create long-term networks within which children and young people together with their families take part in the protection of bats – far beyond the project period.

Keywords: zoology; countryside stuardship; Nature conservation (- research) ; landscape planning; Landscape ecology; Cultural landscape research; environmental research; child and juvenile research; environmental protection;