Rapid Evidence Assessment of the effectiveness of Bat Regulations

Natural England estimated in 2018 that the regulatory system in place for bats had a cost in the region of £75 million per annum, excluding work associated with protected sites. In terms of cost, 'bat regulation' is likely to be very much the largest measure in place in England for bat conservation. Thus, it is important for bat conservation that it delivers the greatest benefit practicable.

All of the 18 species of bat normally resident in England are strictly protected as European Protected Species (EPS). For the time being, as for other EPS, the regulatory system in place is derived from the EC Habitats Directive, which specifies that:

-Measures taken pursuant to this Directive shall be designed to maintain or restore, at favourable conservation status, natural habitats and species of wild fauna and flora of Community interest

Correspondingly this project seeks to improve understanding of how the regulatory system is performing to maintain or restore the favourable conservation status of our bat species

The regulatory system is defined as consisting of:

-the planning and licensing systems,

-the action associated with these systems that is put in place to enable them to help conserve bats

Rapid Evidence Assessment

The project will be conducted in line with the Defra and NERC publication, The Production of Quick Scoping Reviews and Rapid Evidence Assessments, A How to Guide, December 2015 The primary question for the review will be:

-To what extent does the regulatory system benefit the conservation status of bats in England?

Where possible this review will distinguish between species, so that it makes clear where there are differences in what we know of the effect of the system on FCS for individual species Secondary questions could be

-To what extent does it secure avoidance of impact?

-How certain is it that the measures put in place commonly as mitigation and compensation benefit