Bat protection delays demolition of Nokia parish hall
Tuesday 10th November 2026 on 18:45 in
Finland
Bat droppings have delayed plans to demolish a dilapidated parish hall in Nokia, while applications for permits to affect bat habitats are increasing, Yle reports.
Demolition work at the long-empty Mauri parish hall began last spring, but droppings found in the building changed the plans. Further investigation showed they had been left by northern bats, according to Ville Lehtonen, finance director of the Nokia parish. The building had served as a refuge for the bats.
The amount of droppings suggested the building may have been used as a breeding and resting place for decades. No bats are currently known to be inside, but they are expected to return.
Bat breeding and resting places are protected under Finland’s Nature Conservation Act. They cannot be destroyed or damaged without an exemption permit from the Permit and Supervision Agency. The parish has not yet applied for one.
The agency has received 173 bat-related exemption applications since 2015, including 49 so far this year, said Saija Porramo, a senior inspector in its nature conservation unit. Most concern building demolition or renovation; others seek permission for research activities such as handling and ringing bats. Porramo said the increase mainly reflects greater awareness of protected species and their habitats.
She said nature surveys carried out before construction or demolition can identify potential issues early. If bats are discovered after equipment has arrived, work may have to stop while the situation is assessed and a permit sought.
Lehtonen said the parish hall is in such poor condition that it may pose a safety risk to people nearby. It stands next to a cemetery, but the parish wants to take nature values into account. The building was constructed in the late 18th century.
Exemption permits may be granted when legal requirements are met. For buildings due to be demolished, these may include the building’s poor condition or a project of significant public interest. Projects can also sometimes be changed so that a permit is not needed.