C1. Protection, restoration and management of important roosting sites for bats
This action aims to the protect, restore and manage the caves and other bat shelters by small scale projects such as: (1) placement of fences (or replacement of existing ones) with specifications friendly to bats and other cave life, (2) improvement of bioclimatic conditions within the shelters (3) vegetation management, (4) restoration and cleaning of mines' entrances, (5) restoration/improvement of an old building, currently sheltering a small number of bats.
C2: Establishment of an early warning monitoring system for habitat 8310 and important bat colonies
Within this action: (1) advanced (telemetric) monitoring systems will be installed in selected caves and will record and transmit real-time data on conditions inside and outside the caves (temperature, humidity, CO2 levels etc.) as well as through remote-controlled infrared surveillance cameras. These systems will also be used as early warning systems in the event of excessive values or other specific problems. (2) introduction of an autonomous, portable cave monitoring device that will be reproduced in 12 copies to be used by trained volunteers to record data from various caves in Greece (thus contributing to their long-term monitoring).
C3: Cave micro reserves
The purpose of the action is to improve the legal protection of the most important cave micro-habitats in Greece (for bats and endemic species of invertebrates). The 30 most important caves will be selected and will be included in a protected institutional status in order to create a network of cave micro-reserves according to Law 3937/2011, OJG 144/A/17-6-2011. 5 of the above are expected to be institutionalized by the end of the project and at least another 5, five years after the end of the project.
C4: Change the attitude and behaviour of stakeholders
The aim of the action is to change the attitude and behaviour of the involved stakeholders, concerning the caves, cave life and their management. In order to achieve this goal, an effort will be made to inform through all project activities and a series of 16 workshops in 15 cities in the country. During the two-day sessions there will be informative lectures, thematic discussions (for the exchange of views and the recording of specific problems, as well as presentations of examples from the international experience) and excursions to the field for acquaintance with the species and the habitat.
C5: Establishment of volunteer network for habitat 8310 and important bat colonies.
A network of volunteers from all over Greece will be introduced within this action. The aim is to make this network work for the collection of data across the country (Citizen Science), as well as a reporting and early warning network to avoid pressures and threats on the targeted species and habitat. The action includes: (1) organization of training seminars for volunteers, and (2) creation of an application for the notification of problems and data by trained volunteers.
