A year for the world’s only flying mammals
The International Year of the Bats (IYBats) 2027 is a global campaign to celebrate bats, share what science tells us about them, and build lasting support for their conservation. It is coordinated by the Global Union of Bat Diversity Networks (GBatNet) and delivered by bat networks, conservation organisations, researchers, educators and volunteers in every region of the world.
Bats are marvels of natural selection. Over millions of years, nearly 1,500 species have evolved a staggering range of adaptations that give them a critical role in ecosystems worldwide — as pollinators, seed dispersers and insect predators. Yet bats remain widely misunderstood, and today they face unprecedented pressure from habitat destruction, climate change and persecution.
Our goals
- Raise awareness of the importance of bats to people and the planet, using clear, accurate and positive messages.
- Connect communities — researchers, conservationists, educators, artists, families and policy-makers — through a shared global calendar of events.
- Promote conservation by supporting science-based protection of bats and the habitats they depend on, and by reducing conflict between people and bats.
- Leave a legacy: resources, partnerships and outreach that continue long after 2027.
One Health, one future
The health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and our shared environment. Bats, people and ecosystems form one system: actions that protect healthy bat populations also safeguard biodiversity, reduce disease risk and invest in a healthier, more sustainable future. IYBats communications follow the One Health framing set out in our Communication Toolkit.
Who is behind IYBats
GBatNet — the Global Union of Bat Diversity Networks — brings together regional bat research and conservation networks from around the world. IYBats 2027 is organised by GBatNet’s working groups with the support of partner organisations, including Bat Conservation International.
Partner and sponsor logos will appear here as commitments are confirmed.
Contact
General enquiries, events and partnerships: gbatnetscicomm@gmail.com