This annual report is provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) to meet the annual reporting requirement as described in HCP Section 6.3.3. The report describes MDC’s Bat Habitat Conservation Plan planning and implementation activities conducted during the second reporting timeframe (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024), compliance and effectiveness monitoring activities, and the results of the compliance and effectiveness monitoring during the initial reporting timeframe.
The goals of the annual report are to demonstrate to the USFWS and citizens of Missouri that the MDC Bat HCP is being implemented properly, and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the conservation plan. If any implementation problems have occurred, they are disclosed with a description of corrective measures planned or measures that have been taken to address the problems. This report also identifies any responses to changed circumstances and adaptive management during the reporting period.
This report describes progress towards each of the Biological Goals and Objectives outlined in the Bat HCP. Implementation progress updates of particularly note during the FY24 reporting period include:
- Developed management plans for all Priority Bat Management Zones (PBMZ) (see Objective 3.3 in Section 4).
- Integrated bat-friendly BMPs into Professional Timber Harvester Training (see Objective 5.4 in Section 4).
- Continued PBMZ Monitoring: Acoustic surveys were conducted in 5 PBMZs in summer of 2024, including the northern long-eared bat PBMZ at Sunklands Conservation Area. Acoustic surveys have now been completed at all 6 northern long-eared bat PBMZs (Appendix J). Mist-net surveys will be conducted at any sites where northern long-eared bats are detected by acoustic surveys (see Status and Trend Monitoring in Section 5).
- Conducted 2 Regional HCP Implementation Workshops (see Staff Implementation Training in Section 1).