What is the Lesser Horseshoe Bat Conservation Project?
The Lesser Horseshoe Bat Conservation is an EIP (European Innovation Partnership) project being administered by Mulcair Catchment Ltd. The Project is funded by the EU Recovery Instrument Funding under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2022. It is one of 24 projects from around the country that were successful under the Competitive Call 5 announced in February 2021, known as the ‘Farm and Community Biodiversity Initiative’. This initiative sought proposals for the development and implementation of actions that will enhance local on-farm biodiversity. Although all nine Irish bat species are found on farms, the lesser horseshoe bat is probably the one most dependent on the structures and habitats found on farms.