International Symposium: Future of Butterflies in Europe III

Butterflies and moths are declining seriously in most countries across Europe, and action is needed urgently at all levels, from local to European, in order to secure their survival. As charismatic species, indicators of biodiversity and providers of ecosystem functions and services, the conservation of butterflies and moths cover a broad spectrum of the conservation agenda.

Organized by Dutch Butterfly Conservation (De Vlinderstichting), the recent conference Future of Butterflies in Europe III (held 29-31 March 2012) has seen the attendance of over 140 researchers and members of Butterfly Conservation Europe (BCE), an umbrella organisation which seeks to stimulate and co-ordinate conservation action for butterflies, moths and their habitats across Europe.
 
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Various concerns were raised on the ongoing decline of species and their habitats and the need for the EU to address and halt these processes:

1. A diversity of recent studies show that the effect of climate change and land-use changes interact with each other, and should not be addressed as separate issues. Therefore, linking policies on land use and climate change from a biodiversity perspective should be a top priority.

1. There is increasing evidence of negative impacts of nitrogen deposition on butterfly communities, highlighting the importance of further reductions of nitrogen emissions from agriculture, traffic and industry on the one hand, and taking measures to secure low-nitrogen habitats on the other hand.
2. Even common species are showing widespread declines. A greater emphasis for conservation in agricultural landscapes, including Agro-Environment Schemes, is called for, as the benefits of such an approach have already been shown. Urban environments provide additional opportunities for biodiversity conservation that need further exploration.
3. Managing for heterogeneity appears a key issue for the conservation of butterflies and moths. Habitat heterogeneity proves important in buffering the effects of climatic extremes. But the loss of heterogeneity becomes increasingly evident in both intensively used and abandoned rural areas. A session devoted to woodland butterflies illustrated the need to restore and maintain a diverse age and canopy structure to sustain forest biodiversity.
4. A newly emerging concern is presented by the widespread impact of artificial light on ecosystems. Moths have been shown to be greatly affected by artificial light sources and effects on behaviour, population dynamics and cascading effects across trophic levels are currently investigated.
    

A pragmatic way forward is shown by the recent publication by BCE of Do's and Don'ts for the conservation of the 29 butterfly species listed on the European Habitats Driective. We hope it will set a fruitful example!

The organising committee,
Michiel WallisDeVries
Chris Van Swaay
Irma Wynhoff