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The conservation of NSW bat species is examined within the framework of the procedure for threatened species recovery, Priorities Action Statements (PAS), introduced in 2005 by the NSW government to replace the previous requirement to prepare recovery plans. One of the merits of the PAS initiative is that it has produced a single statement of the parlous position of bats in NSW, the actions needed to reverse the threats, and a statement of where the priorities lie for action. To assist with that aim, this paper has recorded all 361 actions for the 20 bat species listed as threatened, as well as analyses and comments on that dataset. The PAS process, and the 361 individual recovery actions that comprise the PAS for bats, are described and discussed within the context of current knowledge, so that bat biologists, managers and policy makers can see the scale and emphases of the recovery process for bats. Research and habitat management are the dominant themes in recovery actions for bats. Research actions comprise 163 (45%) of the 361 actions, and the 89 habitat management actions comprise 25% of all bat recovery actions. The primary message from the PAS process is that it has been possible to arrive at a set of actions to provide a basis for management, both at a funding level and a field level, for which research is an integral part. The PAS for bats represents the first official DECCW statement of recovery actions required for all bat species listed as threatened. It provides an indication of the scale and magnitude of threats confronting the bat fauna of NSW. Their future will depend upon the extent to which the PAS for bats is acknowledged, acted upon, and the time and resources given to bat biologists to implement identified recovery actions.

Bollard, K. 2008 PAS prioritisation in the Lachlan Catchment: A Report to the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority. DEC.
Christian, N. 2009 PAS Prioritisation in the Namoi Catchment. A report to the Namoi Catchment Management Authority. Department of Environment and Climate Change, Dubbo and Natural Heritage Trust.
Department of Environment and Conservation NSW. 2006 Introducing the threatened species priorities action statement. DEC NSW. http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/pdfs/pas0610.pdf Accessed 1 March 2008, weblink no longer available.
Department of Environment and Climate Change 2007 Introducing the NSW threatened species priorities action statement (PAS), DECC NSW. http://threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/home_PAS_new.aspx Last accessed 26 May 2010.
Department of Environment and Climate Change 2008 The vertebrate fauna of Werakata National Park and State Conservation Area. Information and Assessment Section, Metropolitan Branch, Environment Protection and Regulation Division, DECC, Hurstville.
Dominelli, S. 2000 Distribution, roost requirements and foraging behaviour of the greater long eared bat Nyctophilus timoriensis and the little pied bat Chalinolobus picatus in the Bookmark Biosphere Reserve. Unpublished report for the Bookmark Biosphere Trust.
Duncan, A., Baker, G.B., and Montgomery, A. (eds). 1999 The Action Plan for Australian Bats. Environment Australia, Canberra.
Eby, P. 1995 The biology and management of flying-foxes in NSW. Species Management Report No. 18. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. 68 pp.
Eby, P. 2006. Draft National Recovery Plan for the Grey-headed Flying-fox Pteropus poliocephalus. NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, Sydney. 52 pp.
Eby, P. and Law, B. 2008 Ranking the feeding habitats of Grey-headed flying foxes for conservation management. Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Canberra. 66 pp.
Hall, L.S. 1990. Bat conservation in Australia. Australian Zoologist 26: 1-4.
Hutchings, P., Lunney, D. and Dickman, C. (eds) 2004 Threatened species legislation: is it just an Act? Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman, NSW.
Law, B.S. 1996. The ecology of bats in south-east Australian forests and potential impacts of forestry practices: a review. Pacific Conservation Biology 2: 363-74.
Law, B.S. 2004. Challenges for managing bats in the State forests of New South Wales. Pp 748-760 in the Conservation of Australia's Forest Fauna (second edition). Edited by D. Lunney. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman, NSW.
Law, B.S. and Anderson, J., 2000. Roost preferences and foraging ranges of the eastern forest bat Vespadelus pumilus under two disturbance histories on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. Austral Ecology 25: 352-67.
Law, B.S. and Chidel, M., 2001. Bat activity 22 years after first-round intensive logging of alternate coupes near Eden, NSW. Australian Forestry 64: 242-47.
Law, B.S. and Chidel, M. 2002. Tracks and riparian zones facilitate the use of Australian regrowth forest by insectivorous bats. Journal of Applied Ecology 39: 605-17.
Law, B. and Chidel, M. 2004. Roosting and foraging ecology of the golden-tipped bat ( Kerivoula papuensis) on the south coast of New South Wales. Wildlife Research 31: 73-82.
Lloyd, A., Law, B. and Goldingay, R. 2006. Bat activity on riparian zones and upper slopes in Australian timber production forests and the effectiveness of riparian buffers. Biological Conservation 129: 207-220.
Lunney, D. 1989. Priorities for bat conservation. Australian Zoologist 25: 71-78.
Lunney, D., Curtin, A.L., Ayers, D., Cogger, H.G., Dickman, C.R., Maitz, W., Law, B. and Fisher, D. 2000. The threatened and non-threatened fauna of New South Wales: status and ecological attributes. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Environmental and Heritage Monograph Series No. 4. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville, NSW.
Lunney, D., Law, B. and Baverstock, P. 1996. Towards a national bat research strategy for Australia: pointers arising from a survey of participants at the Sixth Australian Bat Conference in January 1994. Pacific Conservation Biology 2: 206-11.
Lunney, D., Mathews, A., Stein, J.A., and Lunney, H.W.M. 2003. Australian bat research: the limitations of The Action Plan for Australian Bats in determining the direction of research. Pacific Conservation Biology 8: 255-260.
McClelland, K.L., Fleming, P.J.S. and Malcolm, P.J. 2010. Grey-headed Flying-foxes in orchards: a collaborative project on damage estimates, contributing factors and mitigation strategies - triumphs and tribulations of flying-fox conservation and management in NSW. Pp. 391-398. in The biology and conservation of Australasian bats, edited by B. Law, P. Eby, D. Lunney and L. Lumsden. Royal Zoological Society of NSW, Mosman, NSW Australia.
Milledge, D. 2007. Threatened species conservation at the local level in New South Wales. Australian Zoologist 34: 133-147.
NSW Scientific Committee 2008. Black Flying-fox - removal of vulnerable species listing - final determination. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/blackflyingfoxfd.htm (Last accessed 26 May 2010)
Parnaby, H. 2009. A taxonomic review of Australian Greater Long-eared Bats previously known as Nyctophilus timoriensis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) and some associated taxa. Australian Zoologist 35: 39-81.
Pennay, M. 2006 Ecological study of the endangered Bristle-nosed bat (Mormopterus species 6) and survey of Microchiropteran bats in Gundabooka National Park. Report for NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Upper Darling Region.
Reardon, T., Adams, M., McKenzie, N. and Jenkins, P. 2008. A new species of Australian freetail bat Mormopterus eleryi sp. nov. (Chiroptera: Molossidae) and a taxonomic reappraisal of M. norfolkensis (Gray). Zootaxa 1875: 1-31.
Richards, G. 1990. Rainforest bat conservation: unique problems in a unique environment. Australian Zoologist 26: 44-46.
Richards, G.C. and Hall, L.S. 1998. Conservation biology of Australian bats. Are recent advances solving our problems? Pp 271-81, in Bat biology and conservation, edited by T.H. Kunz and P.A. Racey, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington.
Woodside, D.P. 1990. A response to a commentary by Les Hall on bat conservation in Australia. Australian Zoologist 26: 37-9.
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Contents

Data & Figures

References

Bollard, K. 2008 PAS prioritisation in the Lachlan Catchment: A Report to the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority. DEC.
Christian, N. 2009 PAS Prioritisation in the Namoi Catchment. A report to the Namoi Catchment Management Authority. Department of Environment and Climate Change, Dubbo and Natural Heritage Trust.
Department of Environment and Conservation NSW. 2006 Introducing the threatened species priorities action statement. DEC NSW. http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/pdfs/pas0610.pdf Accessed 1 March 2008, weblink no longer available.
Department of Environment and Climate Change 2007 Introducing the NSW threatened species priorities action statement (PAS), DECC NSW. http://threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/home_PAS_new.aspx Last accessed 26 May 2010.
Department of Environment and Climate Change 2008 The vertebrate fauna of Werakata National Park and State Conservation Area. Information and Assessment Section, Metropolitan Branch, Environment Protection and Regulation Division, DECC, Hurstville.
Dominelli, S. 2000 Distribution, roost requirements and foraging behaviour of the greater long eared bat Nyctophilus timoriensis and the little pied bat Chalinolobus picatus in the Bookmark Biosphere Reserve. Unpublished report for the Bookmark Biosphere Trust.
Duncan, A., Baker, G.B., and Montgomery, A. (eds). 1999 The Action Plan for Australian Bats. Environment Australia, Canberra.
Eby, P. 1995 The biology and management of flying-foxes in NSW. Species Management Report No. 18. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. 68 pp.
Eby, P. 2006. Draft National Recovery Plan for the Grey-headed Flying-fox Pteropus poliocephalus. NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, Sydney. 52 pp.
Eby, P. and Law, B. 2008 Ranking the feeding habitats of Grey-headed flying foxes for conservation management. Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Canberra. 66 pp.
Hall, L.S. 1990. Bat conservation in Australia. Australian Zoologist 26: 1-4.
Hutchings, P., Lunney, D. and Dickman, C. (eds) 2004 Threatened species legislation: is it just an Act? Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman, NSW.
Law, B.S. 1996. The ecology of bats in south-east Australian forests and potential impacts of forestry practices: a review. Pacific Conservation Biology 2: 363-74.
Law, B.S. 2004. Challenges for managing bats in the State forests of New South Wales. Pp 748-760 in the Conservation of Australia's Forest Fauna (second edition). Edited by D. Lunney. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman, NSW.
Law, B.S. and Anderson, J., 2000. Roost preferences and foraging ranges of the eastern forest bat Vespadelus pumilus under two disturbance histories on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. Austral Ecology 25: 352-67.
Law, B.S. and Chidel, M., 2001. Bat activity 22 years after first-round intensive logging of alternate coupes near Eden, NSW. Australian Forestry 64: 242-47.
Law, B.S. and Chidel, M. 2002. Tracks and riparian zones facilitate the use of Australian regrowth forest by insectivorous bats. Journal of Applied Ecology 39: 605-17.
Law, B. and Chidel, M. 2004. Roosting and foraging ecology of the golden-tipped bat ( Kerivoula papuensis) on the south coast of New South Wales. Wildlife Research 31: 73-82.
Lloyd, A., Law, B. and Goldingay, R. 2006. Bat activity on riparian zones and upper slopes in Australian timber production forests and the effectiveness of riparian buffers. Biological Conservation 129: 207-220.
Lunney, D. 1989. Priorities for bat conservation. Australian Zoologist 25: 71-78.
Lunney, D., Curtin, A.L., Ayers, D., Cogger, H.G., Dickman, C.R., Maitz, W., Law, B. and Fisher, D. 2000. The threatened and non-threatened fauna of New South Wales: status and ecological attributes. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Environmental and Heritage Monograph Series No. 4. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville, NSW.
Lunney, D., Law, B. and Baverstock, P. 1996. Towards a national bat research strategy for Australia: pointers arising from a survey of participants at the Sixth Australian Bat Conference in January 1994. Pacific Conservation Biology 2: 206-11.
Lunney, D., Mathews, A., Stein, J.A., and Lunney, H.W.M. 2003. Australian bat research: the limitations of The Action Plan for Australian Bats in determining the direction of research. Pacific Conservation Biology 8: 255-260.
McClelland, K.L., Fleming, P.J.S. and Malcolm, P.J. 2010. Grey-headed Flying-foxes in orchards: a collaborative project on damage estimates, contributing factors and mitigation strategies - triumphs and tribulations of flying-fox conservation and management in NSW. Pp. 391-398. in The biology and conservation of Australasian bats, edited by B. Law, P. Eby, D. Lunney and L. Lumsden. Royal Zoological Society of NSW, Mosman, NSW Australia.
Milledge, D. 2007. Threatened species conservation at the local level in New South Wales. Australian Zoologist 34: 133-147.
NSW Scientific Committee 2008. Black Flying-fox - removal of vulnerable species listing - final determination. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/blackflyingfoxfd.htm (Last accessed 26 May 2010)
Parnaby, H. 2009. A taxonomic review of Australian Greater Long-eared Bats previously known as Nyctophilus timoriensis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) and some associated taxa. Australian Zoologist 35: 39-81.
Pennay, M. 2006 Ecological study of the endangered Bristle-nosed bat (Mormopterus species 6) and survey of Microchiropteran bats in Gundabooka National Park. Report for NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Upper Darling Region.
Reardon, T., Adams, M., McKenzie, N. and Jenkins, P. 2008. A new species of Australian freetail bat Mormopterus eleryi sp. nov. (Chiroptera: Molossidae) and a taxonomic reappraisal of M. norfolkensis (Gray). Zootaxa 1875: 1-31.
Richards, G. 1990. Rainforest bat conservation: unique problems in a unique environment. Australian Zoologist 26: 44-46.
Richards, G.C. and Hall, L.S. 1998. Conservation biology of Australian bats. Are recent advances solving our problems? Pp 271-81, in Bat biology and conservation, edited by T.H. Kunz and P.A. Racey, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington.
Woodside, D.P. 1990. A response to a commentary by Les Hall on bat conservation in Australia. Australian Zoologist 26: 37-9.
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