Citizen Scientists Help Track Bat Populations in France’s Camargue Wetlands

Bats play a vital role in the ecosystem of the Camargue, France, thanks to the region’s abundant insect life and crucial water sources. To better understand these often-misunderstood creatures, the Tour du Valat research institute launched the Rest-Chir’Eau participatory science project in March 2025, enlisting the help of citizen scientists to collect data on bat species in the area.

A Collaborative Effort to Map Bat Activity

Over a 12-month period, approximately 130 volunteers participated in nighttime observation sessions across more than 300 square kilometers of the Camargue wetlands. This large-scale effort was facilitated by the dedication of volunteers, local stakeholders, partners and landowners who granted access to previously unstudied areas.

“A major deployment which was made possible thanks to the significant mobilization of volunteers, as well as local actors, partners and owners who enabled the acquisition of new data, often in sectors not studied,” said Pauline Rocarpin and Arsène Marquis, project leads at the Tour du Valat in a press release.

Volunteers, ranging from experienced naturalists to those simply curious about the natural world, committed to evening sessions to observe and map bat activity in the wetlands.

Rest-Chir’Eau: Linking Bat Activity to Wetland Health

The Rest-Chir’Eau project, backed by the Tour du Valat until 2027, takes an innovative approach to wetland restoration. It studies bat activity to assess the ecological functionality of wetlands and inform restoration efforts.

Researchers aim to determine if bats can serve as “barometers” of wetland ecological status, building on the understanding that wetlands could be excellent bio-indicators in the context of global changes. The project, which won the Rhone-Mediterranean and Corsica Water Agency’s 2023 “Water and Biodiversity” call for projects, will contribute to global expertise in wetland management and restoration, even as similarly promoting bat conservation.

How to Get Involved

The Rest-Chir’Eau project includes several avenues for public participation:

• Online Survey: From March 10 to autumn 2025, residents and visitors can share their bat observations through a simple online questionnaire.
• Field Sessions: Participatory monitoring sessions are held at dawn and dusk from spring to autumn, offering hands-on experience in bat observation and data collection. No prior knowledge is required.

International Bat Night at Tour du Valat

The Tour du Valat also hosted an International Bat Night on August 24, 2024, featuring presentations on bat species, the Rest-Chir’Eau project, and a guided bat-watching tour using acoustic detectors.

The Rest-Chir’Eau project exemplifies the power of combining scientific research with citizen science to advance our understanding of and protect vital ecosystems like the Camargue wetlands.