Welsh Agri-environment Monitoring Project
BCT, in a consortium with other voluntary organisations (Butterfly Conservation, Plant Life, Wildife Trusts) and led by the RSPB, were successful in winning a contract from the Welsh Assembly Government to look at the success of the Tir Gofal agri-environment scheme in delivering real benefits for nature conservation. The partners are monitoring a range of target species on Welsh farms to address the question: do agri-environment schemes help maintain and enhance biodiversity? 
Agri-environment schemes form a core part of UK and country-level biodiversity strategy to contribute to the target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010 by restoring and creating habitats and to deliver the requirements of priority species. However their potential delivery in practice for bats has rarely been tested.
BCT's project aims to assess the performance of the Tir Gofal scheme in delivering benefits for selected priority bat species in Wales. These species are noctules and pipistrelles, Daubenton's bat, and greater and lesser horseshoe bats. National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP) survey methods are being used to assess the activity of the target bat species on farms in Tir Gofal compared with similar control farms that are not in the scheme.
Other benefits will be to raise the overall number of NBMP Field and Waterway survey sites in Wales, to improve species distribution data in Wales, and enhance the resources available to those with an interest in bat conservation in Wales. Project outcomes will help to inform BCT future advice/actions for bats on agricultural land.
If you would like more information then please contact Ruth at RAngell@bats.org.uk.
