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UN puts the bat in the global spotlight
AFP - Thursday, September 23
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UN puts the bat in the global spotlight
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - – The United Nations Wednesday launched the "year of the bat," hoping a bit of positive publicity can foster better understanding of the role the mammals play in pollination and dispersal of seeds.
"From insect-eating bats in Europe that provide important pest control to seed-dispersing bats in the tropics that help sustain rainforests, bats deliver vital ecosystem services across a wide range of environments," the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said.
It voiced concern that bat populations have plunged in recent decades due to habitat loss, amid increasing urbanization and epidemics.
"Compared to animals like tigers and elephants, bats receive little positive attention," EUROBATS Executive Secretary Andreas Streit said of the only flying mammals.
"But they are fascinating mammals and play an indispensable role in maintaining our environment."
Of 1,100 bat species, half are endangered due to deforestation and other threats.
"Most people are unaware that bats provide invaluable services to the environment," the UNEP said.
"Fruit agriculture, central to tropical economies, depends to a large extent on the ecological contributions of fruit bats. An estimated 134 plants that yield products used by humans are partially or entirely reliant on bats for seed dispersal or pollination."
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