Who we are
Mammal Conservation Europe (MCE)
Mammal Conservation Europe (MCE) was legally founded in November 2021 by a consortium of NGOs focused on mammal conservation and research.
They share the vision of MCE: To achieve thriving populations of native European mammals, in a world where mammals and humans live together in harmony.
Our Aim
Conservation of European mammals and their habitats
Тo improve the conservation of European mammals and their habitats by exchanging knowledge between partner organisations, and by building capacity for mammal conservation across Europe. Through working together, we can provide a much stronger voice for mammal conservation.
Our Mission
To achieve thriving populations of European mammals
Mammal Conservation Europe uses evidence-based advocacy to achieve thriving populations of European mammals. We are therefore establishing and maintaining a network of mammal experts and NGOs, ensuring an efficient flow of information to policymakers, lobbyists and the private sectors, and facilitating improved surveillance and conservation action for mammals across Europe. The network is highly inclusive and we aim to involve mammal conservation partners from across Europe, with members of the network supporting each other to achieve our common goals with all legal means available.
Encourage
collaborations
Collaboration between experts, NGOs and other stakeholders is vital to achieve effective conservation and monitoring of mammals across Europe. Many species are migratory, or have populations that extend across national boundaries, and therefore international cooperation is crucial. We invite people and organisations who are passionate about mammal conservation to work together to influence policy, monitor mammals, review evidence, and achieve practical conservation actions. We aim to share experiences and knowledge across generations and between different kinds of organisations, and welcome innovative approaches to solving the many difficulties faced by our mammal populations.
Support
the establishment and development of organisations with a focus on mammals
There is an urgent need to improve capacity for mammal monitoring, data collation, and practical conservation action, in many countries in Europe. We will therefore support the development of local and national organisations, sharing examples of good practice and assisting with access to resources. These organisations will be important parts of the MCE network, and will in future provide the skills and advocacy needed for effective mammal conservation across the continent.
Improve
the quality of data on mammals and their habitats
We work on terrestrial, semi-aquatic and marine mammal species, focusing on improving knowledge of their presence, distribution and abundance at national and international geographic scales. Our work includes rare, endangered and elusive species, as well as abundant species that are critical to ecosystem functioning. We build capacity for using new surveillance methods, including camera trapping, radio-telemetry, bioacoustics, and genetic monitoring, across the continent. We also emphasise the importance of monitoring habitat quality, connectivity, trends, and possible management strategies that may improve conservation outcomes. Harmonisation of research and monitoring methodologies, and the facilitation of data flows between organisations, will lead to better-informed large-scale management of mammals and their habitats.
Undertake
advocacy and address policy
MCE promotes mammal conservation and research among institutions, communities and other nature conservation stakeholders. We operate an Open Access policy, making all our strategic documents, action plans, reports, monitoring methods, experiences, photos and videos of species, best practice cases on nature protection easily available. We use different communication channels including social media, information portals, national and international media, newsletters, conferences, workshops, training, meetings, summer camps, study tours and outdoor education. We discuss with politicians and statutory bodies the urgent issues of mammal conservation and highlight research gaps.
Board members
Chair: Fiona Mathews
Professor of Environmental Biology, University of Sussex UK. f.mathews@sussex.ac.uk The Mammal Society (UK)Fiona was Chair of the UK’s Mammal Society UK (2015-2021), and before that headed their Scientific Advisory Committee. She is known particularly for her work on bats, including research on light and sound pollution, urban expansion and agricultural intensification, and wind energy generation, and is part of the Eurobats Scientific Advisory Committee. However, she has a wide interest in all mammals, having led the review of the population and conservation status of British mammals as well as the first IUCN-compliant Red Lists. She is currently leading the Mammal Society’s Otter Survey of England. Fiona has run the odd marathon to raise money for wildlife and enjoys wild swimming all year round.
Secretary: Dr. Lucy Rogers
Chief Executive Vincent Wildlife TrustLucy leads the team in delivering strategic, evidence-based conservation to protect threatened mammals. With a PhD in small mammal ecology from the University of Aberdeen, she has worked on badger ecology and TB epidemiology at APHA’s National Wildlife Management Centre. Before joining VWT, she was Director of Delivery Programmes at Avon Wildlife Trust, overseeing conservation and community engagement initiatives.
Treasurer: Svetlana Miteva
Nature and Biodiversity Consultant The European Mammal FoundationSvetlana (MSc in Ecology and Nature conservation, Technical University of Varna, Bulgaria) lives in The Netherlands and Bulgaria. She has worked with different NGOs on nature conservation projects on birds and butterflies in Europe. Currently her focus is on contributing to mammal research and conservation in Europe. She is also a board member of the European Mammal Foundation, The Field Study Group at the Dutch Mammal Society, and volunteer at The Habitat Foundation, The Netherlands. Svetlana likes swimming and snorkelling, hiking and looking for anything magical the nature can offer like birds, mammals, orchids, mushrooms and stones.
Board member: Sandro Bertolino
Professor of Ecology, University of Torino, Italy Italian Mammal SocietySandro is an animal ecologist and chair of the Italian Mammal Society. He has broad research interests in how species and communities adapt to global changes and conducts studies on the behaviour, ecology and population dynamics of vertebrates, focusing on mammals. His research aims to improve species conservation, supporting the development of science-based conservation strategies.
Sandro enjoys hiking in the mountains, watching animals, and travelling abroad. He also loves Rock music.
Board member: Gábor Csorba
Senior Researcher at the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Hungary The Mammal Conservation Group at BirdLife HungaryGabor is the head of the Department of Zoology in the Hungarian Natural History Museum and president of the Hungarian Mammal Conservation Group. His main interests are the conservation biology of Hungarian mammals, the systematics of blind mole-rats (Spalacidae) and the systematics and distribution of Southeast Asian bats. He is lucky enough to author (with several co-authors, of course) more than 40 new taxa of bats, and so it is no wonder that his favourite mammal species is the Northern Woolly horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus perniger). Gabor’s free time hobby is collecting and cataloguing Hungarian stamped bricks from the last 400 years, of which over 10,000 different types exist!
Board member: Bledi Hohxa
Project leader at PPNEA, Albania Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in AlbaniaBledi (MSc in Biology from the University of Tirana, Albania) has been working at PPNEA since 2009. He focuses on the conservation of large carnivores, like the Balkan lynx and brown bear in Albania, primarily in the most important habitats where these species occur, such as Munella Nature Park, Shebenik National Park and Prespa National Park. Bledi has been involved as expert for mammals in the EU-project NaturAL, which aimed to assess and prepare the future Natura2000 network in Albania. He has good skills in snow tracking, telemetry, and camera trapping and is a co-author of a variety of articles on large carnivore ecology and conservation.
Board member: George Mitsainas
Assistant Professor in Biodiversity of Mammals, University of Patras, Hellenic Zoological SocietyGeorge is a zoologist who is interested in mammalian chromosomal evolution, biodiversity, phylogeography and conservation, and loves field work. He is also the Secretary of the Hellenic Zoological Society. For several years he was Director/Coordinator of the Management Body of the National Park of Mt. Aenos on Cephalonia Island, where monitoring programs and management plans were designed and implemented. His main research is on small mammals, particularly voles and mice, and, lately, dormice, but also other species, such as the otter. His free time is happily ‘consumed’ by his three toddlers, but he also enjoys hiking, snorkelling, and travelling abroad.
Board member: Tijana Trbojević
Head of the Center for Green Energy at Cidea and General Secretary of the Ecology and Research Association (EID) BiH; MSc Ecology (Bosnia and Herzegovina)Tijana leads projects on biodiversity conservation, youth environmental education, and sustainable community development, with notable field work on endangered species protection. Tijana is also a senior assistant at the Faculty of Ecology, Independent University of Banja Luka, pursuing a PhD in sustainable development. She has published research, initiated environmental protection programs, and managed cross-border cooperation projects.
Board member: Szilárd-Lehel Bücs, PhD
President; Centre for Bat Research and Conservation, RomaniaSzilárd is a bat researcher for 20+ years, with extensive experience in the romanian Natura 2000 network. Leader of the NGO Centre for Bat Research and Conservation, he is involved in on-site conservation of bat populations accross the country. Since 2018 he is the romanian scientific focal point in frame of the EUROBATS Agreement. He is also member in the scientific council of 4 major national parks in Romania, as well as a member in the Speleological Heritage Committee of the Ministry of Environment.
Founding members
The Mammal Society (UK)
The Mammal Society (MS) provides evidence for mammal conservation. MS includes academics, practitioners, volunteers, and public interested in wildlife conservation. We produced the first Red List for British Mammals, the UK Mammal Atlas, and guidance to the Welsh Government on the conservation of water voles. We run national surveys, e.g., for the otter, the harvest mouse, and the mountain hare. MS’s free smartphone app helps engage volunteers with wildlife monitoring.
The European Mammal Foundation
The European Mammal Foundation is an independent charity, registered in the Netherlands. The main focus is on the production of the next European Mammal Atlas, involving mammal experts from all European countries. EMF supports field studies on mammals in Europe, filling up data gaps on species and areas, aiming at informing policy and conservation of the European mammalian fauna.
Dutch Mammal Society
The Dutch Mammal Society (De Zoogdiervereniging), founded in 1952, is dedicated to the study and protection of mammals, primarily in the Netherlands, involving volunteers, both professional and amateur mammal experts. DMS includes 14 working groups, one of which if the Field Study Group, specialized in mammal surveys in partnership with similar organisations in Europe. DMS publishes 2 magazines: the popular Zoogdier and the scientific Lutra.
Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania
Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA) founded in 1991, is the first environmental NGO in Albania. PPNEA holds expertise in nature and biodiversity conservation, environmental education, promotion of a sustainable livelihood and natural resources management. PPNEA works on research and conservation of the Balkan lynx, wetlands and coastal areas, important for breeding, wintering and migratory birds.
Hellenic Zoological Society
The Hellenic Zoological Society, founded in 1980 in Athens, Greece. The Society’s goal is the study of the geographical distribution (zoogeography), the ecology and taxonomy of animals in Greece, and the protection and conservation of the fauna of Greece. It publishes various scientific works on related issues and every three years it organizes the International Congress on the Zoogeography and Ecology of Greece and Adjacent Regions (ICZEGAR).
Italian Mammal Society
The Associazione Teriologica Italiana (ATIt) brings together researchers and practitioners on mammal research and conservation. ATIt promotes basic and applied research, conservation and management of mammals and their habitats, dissemination of up-to-date knowledge on these species, collaborates with national and international institutions, assists the EU HD Art.17 reporting, assessments for national Red Lists and the application of the IAS Regulation.
The Mammal Conservation Group at BirdLife Hungary
The Mammal Conservation Group Hungary is part of MME Emlosvedelmi Szakosztaly – BirdLife Hungary – the largest NGO in the country. Beside the management of mammal distribution records, done in close cooperation with GOs and NGOs, the current main projects are on bat conservation, and steppe-dweller small mammals including blind mole rats, Hungarian birch mouse, European hamster, and Steppe polecat.
German Society for Mammalian Biology
Founded in 1926, the German Society for Mammalian Biology is an integrative institution aiming at fostering research and conservation of mammal species in their natural habitats, and exchange of information between organisations working in the field of mammalogy. We pursue this by editing the scientific journal “Mammalian Biology” and by regular scientific meetings, where topics on mammalian biology are discussed.
members
Spanish Association for the Conservation and Research of Bats
The Mammal Society (MS) provides evidence for mammal conservation. MS includes academics, practitioners, volunteers, and public interested in wildlife conservation. We produced the first Red List for British Mammals, the UK Mammal Atlas, and guidance to the Welsh Government on the conservation of water voles. We run national surveys, e.g., for the otter, the harvest mouse, and the mountain hare. MS’s free smartphone app helps engage volunteers with wildlife monitoring.
Wildlife Montenegro
Wildlife Montenegro is a young organisation established by a group of volunteers. The goal of the organisation is to collect information about the distribution and status of wildlife species in Montenegro and to use this information for conservation purposes. Currently, their focus is on mammals. They systematically survey every UTM square for mammal species (see for example ‘87 mammals species in Montenegro‘). Besides national use, the data are used for the update of the Atlas of European mammals.
BatLife Europe
BatLife Europe www.batlife-europe.info
BatLife Europe is an international NGO built from a partnership of national bat conservation organisations inEurope, committed to promoting the conservation of all bat species and their habitats throughout Europe.
The broad aim of BatLife Europe is to promote the conservation of all wild bat species and their habitats throughout Europe, for the benefit of the public.
Ecology and Research Association (EID)
Ecology and Research Association (EID) www.ekoloskoistrazivackodrustvo.rs.ba
The Ecology and Research Association (EID) is established by biologists and nature enthusiasts in Bonia and Herzegovina as a non-political, non-governmental and non-profit association aiming at research and environmental protection, with the aim of introducing and realizing the principles of sustainable development.
Centre for Bat Research and Conservation
Centre for Bat Research and Conservation www.lilieci.ro/en
The Centre for Bat Research and Conservation (CBRC) is a Romanian NGO established in 2017, by several bat enthusiasts across Romania. The CBRC’s purpose is to research and conserve Romanian bats (Chiroptera), as well as their habitats and roosts, in order to protect nature in general, and to strive towards a healthier environment for us all. We currently are implementing a EUROBATS EPI project with colleagues from the Republic of Moldova, and are partners in an international LIFE+ project, coordinated by Poland
(www.lifepodkowiectowers.pl/en).
Pro Bilche
Pro Bilche www.probilche.ch
Pro Bilche is an association that aims at scientifically research in Switzerland. Pro Bilche is cooperating with public institutions and other small mammal research groups in Switzerland. Via their projects on Garden Dormice in the Swiss Alps (where still probably the largest population of the species in Europe lives) they have gathered extensive experience in conservation and research of this species.
Vincent Wildlife Trust
Vincent Wildlife Trust (VWT) is one of Britain’s leading mammal conservation organisations. They do research into why mammal populations fall, and apply innovative evidence-based ways of halting and reversing declines in Britain, Ireland, and mainland Europe. Their aim is to conserve threatened mammals with scientifically sound conservation work, which they deliver with their own projects and by providing expert advice to a growing
number of partner organisations.
Morcegos.PT
Morcegos.PT is a recently established association, dedicated to the research and conservation of bat populations in Portugal. Morcegos.PT is committed to understanding the ecology of bats and promoting their conservation to ensure the preservation of our natural ecosystems. The organization also aims at addressing the misconceptions about bats and communicate their crucial role in maintaining ecological balance.
Verein Minimus
The Association Minimus, founded in 2018, is a non-profit organization with the aim of fostering the research and conservation of small mammals in Switzerland. To pursue these objectives, the Association initiates and hosts projects for the conservation of Shrews, Dormice and Mustelids and organizes an exchange of knowledge and experiences between members and researchers from Switzerland and abroad.
People’s Trust for Endangered Species
For nearly 50 years, we’ve stood up for wildlife. Working with scientists, conservationists, landowners, and the public, we help restore our most threatened species and protect fragile ecosystems. Thanks to our supporters, our grants fund leading researchers and field experts, whose evidence drives global conservation. Explore the map below to see the remarkable wildlife we’re helping save from extinction.