Paper short abstract:

Bat Conservation International’s Agave Restoration Initiative is a collaborative, transdisciplinary effort to enhance climate resiliency of natural ecosystems, improving local livelihoods and contributing to the conservation of nectivorous bat species.

Paper long abstract:

Pollinators are critical for functioning ecosystems and economies around the world, but anthropogenic pressures combined with climate change are pushing many species to the brink of extinction. Bat Conservation International has established an Agave Restoration Initiative to protect and restore healthy, functioning ecosystems that support local livelihoods and protect nectivorous bats in the US Southwest and Mexico. By working with a diverse set of partners, this initiative builds strong local support in key areas that enables us to identify culturally and environmentally suitable sites and strategies for agave restoration actions. These actions are not only necessary to create resilient foraging corridors for migratory movements of nectivorous bats, but also to support local community enterprises through investment in local infrastructure (community greenhouses), business opportunities (wildlife-friendly products), and sustainable livelihoods (investment and training in sustainable agricultural and ranching techniques). With insights from ethnoecological and livelihoods research with rural Mexican communities and agave harvesters, we have identified opportunities for enhancing synergies and reducing trade-offs between livelihood and bat conservation goals. Incorporating local forms of knowledge has allowed us to challenge conventional ecological assumptions about the effects of local land uses on agave populations, allowing for the development of more ecologically effective and socially ethical forms of bat conservation. In addition, BCI is developing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) frameworks for engaging with local communities. This collaborative and transdisciplinary approach allows us to set ambitious goals that enhance climate resiliency of natural ecosystems, improving local livelihoods and saving bat species from extinction.