Four New Bat Conservation Banks Approved by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Across United States

Located in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Missouri, four new bat conservation banks were approved by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Each bank is sponsored by Magnolia Land Partners. Conservation banks are restored and permanently protected parcels of land designed to offset adverse effects to threatened and endangered species. With the recent approval from USFWS, these conservation banks now protect over 975 acres of high-quality bat habitat and provide migration credits for projects with impacts to four threatened and endangered bat species.

Since the advent of white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungus, hibernating bats have had significant population declines. Other threats to bat species include habitat loss and collisions with wind turbines. Protecting bat habitat with these biodiversity projects supports bats in reproducing and recovering their populaIons, which has many ecological and economic benefits, including pest control and pollination in agriculture.

“We’re proud of our hard work, including coordinating with landowners, conducting multiple nights of bat acousIc and mist-net surveys, large land restoration efforts, and partnering with U.S. Fish and Wildlife, to help save these threatened and endangered bats,” said Mark Bernstein, Partner and Regulatory Director of Magnolia. “With the sale of these generated credits, we can continue to restore and enhance some of our most valuable ecosystems across the country.”

Listed below are the details of each bank, their covered species and their service areas:

• Canoe Creek Phase I Conservation Bank: In addition to Indiana bat, now includes northern long-eared bat, little brown bat, and tricolored bat credits. The service area is statewide in Pennsylvania.

• Canoe Creek Phase II Conservation Bank: Covers Indiana bat, northern long-eared bat, little brown bat, and tricolored bat. The service area is statewide in Pennsylvania.

• Eagle Creek Conservation Bank: Covers Indiana bat and northern long-eared bat. The service area is statewide in Ohio.

• South Fabius River Phase II Conservation Bank: Covers Indiana bat, northern long-eared bat, tricolored bat, and lttle brown bat. The service area is statewide in Missouri.

Magnolia | https://www.mitigation.org/