Join the EIANZ Ecology Special Interest Section for our third engaging webinar in the wind farm series, where we will focus on the use of European guidelines for bat conservation in the wind farm industry. Due to high demand and interest in international perspectives, we are excited to share insights from Europe on how these guidelines are shaping the industry’s approach to managing bat populations.

This session will explore how European best practices and regulations are being applied to balance wind energy development with bat protection, and how these guidelines are influencing decisions across the sector. Whether you’re an industry professional, researcher, or wildlife conservation advocate, this webinar will offer valuable insights into integrating effective conservation strategies into wind farm projects.

Don’t miss out—register now to gain a deeper understanding of the European experience and its impact on bat conservation practices!

This webinar is the third in our series of webinars focusing on wind farms. Wind farm webinars which will run in 2025 are below. Keep an eye on your inbox for information on these webinars!

March 2025: Bird Utilisation Surveys
May 2025: Offset site obligation | Separate species
July 2025: Wind Farm and Post approval monitoring requirement

Meet the speakers:

Dr Suren Gazaryan | EUROBATS Secretariat

Suren Gazaryan is a Project Officer at the UNEP/EUROBATS Secretariat, where he contributes to the advancement of bat conservation efforts across Europe. With a background in environmental science, Suren has been actively involved in a range of initiatives aimed at protecting bat populations and their habitats. His work includes supporting international agreements, providing technical assistance to member states, and coordinating research on bat conservation. Suren has published widely on topics related to bat ecology, conservation, and human-wildlife conflicts.

At the webinar, Suren will share insights on the implementation of international conservation agreements, resolutions and legal aspects faced in ensuring effective bat protection in the face of growing environmental pressures.

Professor Dr Christian Voigt | Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research

Professor Dr Voigt studied at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, earning a doctoral degree in zoology under the supervision of Prof. Otto von Helversen in 1998. He then worked as a DAAD postdoc at Boston University and Cornell University (U.S.A.) on the socio-biology and sensory ecology of bats. After a brief postdoc at the University of Bielefeld, Germany, he became a staff researcher at Leibniz-IZW, where he has been since 2001. In 2007, he completed his "Habilitation" at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and taught as a Privatdozent* until 2010. Since then, he has taught Behavioural Ecology and Human-Wildlife Conflicts at the Freie Universität Berlin. Prof. Dr. Voigt is an associate editor for two scientific journals, a member of the UNEP/EUROBATS advisory board, and has published over 200 papers. His edited e-book, Bats in the Anthropocene, has contributed significantly to the field.

Professor Dr Voigt will provide valuable insights into the best practices for managing bat populations in relation to wind farms, drawing from his extensive research and expertise in Europe.

Dr Fiona Mathews | Professor of Environmental Biology at the University of Sussex

Fiona monitors wildlife status and researches practical conservation solutions. Recent projects include studying British mammal population trends, assessing the impact of wind turbines on bats, and evaluating the effects of roads, street lighting, and plastic ingestion on wildlife. Fiona is the founding Chair of Mammal Conservation Europe, former Chair of the Mammal Society, and Trustee of the Kasanka Trust. She also co-founded Ecotype Genetics Ltd and led the Eurobats Scientific Advisory Committee's Working Group on Wind Energy. Fiona established the MOTUS static radiotracking network in the UK to track bat movements.

Her book, Black Ops and Beaver Bombing: Adventures with Britain's Wild Mammals, was shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize.

Fiona will also discuss practical issues and challenges in implementing conservation strategies, providing insights into managing bat populations alongside wind energy development.

This event will run off Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) and will run for 1.5 hours. This webinar will be recorded and the recording will be made available to all registered attendees in the days after the webinar.

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