Esther Love Darkoh
This work stems from the pressing need to address the threats faced by urban biodiversity, especially bat populations, in rapidly developing African cities like Tamale, Ghana, where the complex relationship between urban development and bats remains understudied. Further, this work aligns with the African Urban Agenda Goal 7, linked to the SDGs, aiming to achieve sustainable urbanisation with a focus on biodiversity, conservation, and sustainable natural resource management by 2063. Poorly implemented urban policies lacking consideration for green space initiatives and human–wildlife interactions could potentially hinder the achievement of this goal.
Bats, specifically those coexisting with humans (i.e. synanthropic) in urban environments, face the risk of local extinction due to human behaviours and biodiversity-related policy challenges in Ghana. Their habitats, which include forests and other green spaces in the Greater Tamale Area (GTA), are declining due to urban developments associated with population growth. Unlike efforts elsewhere, little work has been done to comprehensively map bat habitats and roosts in Ghana’s urban environments.
Therefore, recognising these geographical, cultural, and policy variations, this project aims to document bat roosts, threats, and local knowledge for conservation in the Greater Tamale Area. It will be carried out by employing multiple methodologies such as mist netting, acoustic monitoring, Geographic Information Systems, and social surveys. This work will contribute to a better understanding of how urbanisation influences bats, offering essential insights for developing effective and sustainable conservation strategies tailored to the unique challenges bats face in the GTA