The issue is complicated by the fact that abandoned mines occur on private, state, and federal lands, with jurisdiction spread among many agencies with differing objectives and policies. Fostering cooperation and communication among these agencies, as well as involving the mining industry itself, will be critical. Developing educational materials to facilitate awareness of the problem, and to introduce solutions, has been one of the project's first priorities. A slide program and interpretive booth will further carry the message to important agency and industry conventions and meetings. BCI and other agency partners will collaborate to produce and distribute a brochure designed to alert the public about the relevance of mine closures to bat conservation.
Training is also an integral part of the project.
A video covering techniques to assess mines for bats, and closure methods that protect both bats and people, will be developed with the BLM for distribution to federal land managers. The first training workshops for BLM wildlife managers were held last fall. BCI and the BLM will also be conducting a series of three-day workshops open to all federal land managers throughout the western states. BCI will conduct similar workshops to bring together federal, state, and private organizations and agencies in other key regions. A special two-day version of this workshop is scheduled this fall in Michigan's Upper Peninsula to respond to their regional crisis where millions of hibernating bats are at immediate risk.