From Research to Education, an Openness to the Community

M. MÓNICA DÍAZ

San José

Simposio; 16th International Bat Research Congress (IBRN); 2013

PCMCr y Universidad de Costa Rica

Over many years, our research group has been investigating on bats, but it was recently that we have become aware of the importance of expanding this knowledge to reach the community, if the goal is the conservation of bats. It is for this reason that in 2007, we decided to create the PCMA (Program for Conservation of Bats in Argentina) which although carries out researches, their primary goal is to provide education. Bats are a group of very special mammals that besides receiving threats, like any wild animal, has one of the most important threats to the conservation of any species: "ignorance". Despite all the benefits to the environment and humans, they still produce negative reactions in people. Throughout all these years, the PCMA has made strong campaigns attempting to reverse this situation, working in educational institutions through lectures and activities, in order to inform to people that bats are beneficial and to clarify about the myths and legends that have been woven around them. Brochures have been produced as well as stories and educational material. There has been a strong spread through the media and through workshops at different levels of education and to the community in general. All these activities have allowed the PCMA carry the message about the bats and their benefits, thus advancing an important step toward its conservation.