*2.2.2 Objective 2: identification and ranking of different threats to BAT conservation and their causes*

Different threats to BAT conservation in its natural ecosystems and their causes, Mt. Elgon areas (Site 1) were identified in each zone and classified under three major threat categories, namely human-use threat, livestock threat and habitat destruction threat.


In each study zone, the identified threats and their causes were arranged and ranked as; very high, high, medium, low and very low when the threat in question is capable of destroying at least 80%, 70–80%, 50–69%, 30–49%, and below 30% of in-situ BAT species, respectively [13]. The threats are ranked as Very High: when a very large area of conservation target species and site is likely to be destroyed and High: when many locations of the target conservation site and the number is likely to be destroyed. Medium thread occurs when it's localized in its scope with a moderate degradation level and affects limited locations of the target conservation zone. Low and very low threats occur when the threat only impairs small and insignificant portions of the target conservation area and species; respectively [13].
