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COMPANY FOR SCIENTIFIC IMPLEMENTATION

Participation in international project

"Red data book of European butterflies (Rhopalocera)"

Abstract

This report provides a new up-to-date review to identify conservation priorities and a new Red List for the 576 butterfly species known to occur in Europe. The geographical scope is continent-wide, and covers all countries within the Council of Europe, including the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Russia east to the Ural mountains and the whole of Turkey. Data were collected through a network of over 50 expert national compilers and threat status was assessed using the new IUCN criteria, especially adapted for use at a Continental level and with data available for butterflies.

The analysis showed that a total 69 species are threatened in Europe (12% of the total) either because of their extreme rarity or rapid decline. They comprise 17 threatened globally and 52 threatened at European level. A further 43 species are classified as Lower Risk (near threatened). Criteria are developed to identify species of European Conservation Concern and the threats and distribution of threatened species are described.

The overall conclusion is that many European butterflies are under serious threat, especially from rapidly changing land use and the intensification of agriculture and forestry. A major new initiative for conserving European butterflies is therefore needed. A series of recommendations are given including the need for policy changes; better protection and management of key butterfly habitats; identification of prime butterfly areas; further research, survey and monitoring; the addition of the 34 most threatened species to the Bern Convention and EC Habitats and Species Directive; and and overall action programme for European butterflies.

 

Coenonympha hero

is a characteristic butterfly of wet, open forests. In Western and Central Europe this species has decreased sharply and is now even extinct in four countries. For this reason it is listed an Appendix II of the Bern Convention. Main threats are changes in woodland management and land drainage. At present strong populations are only in Russia and Baltic states.

Drawing by Paul Schoenmakers, The Netherlands.

Parnassius apollo

was reported in 28 countries. In the higher mountains of Europe the butterfly is still widespread and mostly not threatened, but it has disappeared from many lowland localities. As a result of this overall decline P. apollo is considered to be Vulnerable in Europe (Spec 3).

 

 

Drawing by Paul Schoenmakers, The Netherlands.

Ukrainian and Moldova parts of project

Species

Country

Conservation

status*

Expert

&

compiler
Colias chrysotheme Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Triphysa phryne Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Tomares nogelii Ukraine 2 Popov S.
Tomares callimachus Ukraine 2 Popov S.
Scolitandies orion Ukraine 3 Popov S
Glaucopsyche alexis Ukraine 3 Popov S
Lycaena helle Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Maculinea alcon Ukraine 3 Popov S
Maculinea arion Ukraine 3 Popov S
Maculinea nausithous Ukraine 1 Popov S.
Maculinea teleius Ukraine 3 Popov S
Neolycaena rhymnus Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Pseudophilotes vicrama Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Pseudophilotes bavius Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Polyommatus eroides Ukraine 2 Popov S.
Polyommatus poseidon Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Polyommatus damone Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Nymphalis xanthomelas Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Nymphalis vaualbum Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Euphydryas maturna Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Euphydryas aurinia Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Melitaea britomartis Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Melitaea aurelia Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Boloria titania Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Lopinga achine Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Pseudochazara euxina Ukraine 4a Popov S.
Coenonympha oedippus Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Coenonympha tullia Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Coenonympha hero Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Erebia aethiops Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Erebia medusa Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Thymelicus acteon Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Pygus cinarae Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Carcharodus lavatherae Ukraine 2 Popov S.
Parnassius apollo Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Leptidea morsei Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Colias myrmidone Ukraine 3 Popov S.
Tomares nogelii Moldova 2 Popov S. & Nagomatulin M.
Nymphalis xanthomelas Moldova 3 Popov S. & Nagomatulin M.
Maculinea arion Moldova 3 Popov S. & Nagomatulin M.
Leptidea morseii Moldova 3 Popov S. & Nagomatulin M.
Glaucopsyche alexis Moldova 3 Popov S. & Nagomatulin M.
Euphydryas maturna Moldova 3 Popov S. & Nagomatulin M.
Colias chrysotheme Moldova 3 Popov S. & Nagomatulin M.
Carcharodus lavatherae Moldova 2 Popov S. & Nagomatulin M.

*The aim of this assessment is to identify species that are of conservation concern at a European scale, following the concept used for birds by Tucker & Heath (1994). These butterflies are termed Species of European Conservation Concern (SPECs) and are divided into four categories depending of their global conservation status, their European Threat Status and the proportion world range in Europe:

SPEC 1 - Species of global conservation concern because they are restricted to Europe and considered globally threatened.

SPEC 2 - Species whose global distribution is concentrated in Europe and are considered threatened in Europe.

SPEC 3 - Species whose global distribution is not concentrated in Europe, but are considered threatened in Europe.

SPEC 4a - Species whose global distribution are restricted to Europe, but are not considered threatened globally or in Europe.

**We are extremely grateful to our Ukrainian and Moldova scientists and amateurs for their time and invaluable expertise: Anatoli Gritcenko (Uzhgorod), Vladimir Gurko (Chernovtci), Mihail Nagomatulin (Kishinev, Moldova), Oleg Smik (Kharkov), Anatoli Korovin (Kiev), Genadi Romanov (Khmelnicki), Sergei Hrush (Zaporozie), Yuri Kanarski (Lvov), Vladislav Kovalenko (Krivoi Rog), Miroslav Atamanuk (Sniatin), Anatoli Shneider (Sudak), Natalia Elago (Chernigov).

This project was funded by the Council of Europe, "English Nature", "Landbouw, natuurbeheer en visserl", "Butterfly Conservation" and 'in kind' contributions from Dutch Butterfly Conservation.

References:

Chris van Swaay, Martin Warren, Andrea Grill. Threatened butterflies in Europe. Provisional report. Dutch Butterfly conservation (De Vlinderstichting), Wageningen. VS97. 25 November 1997.

Chris van Swaay, Martin Warren , Abstract to the project "Red data book of European butterflies (Rhopalocera)". Dutch Butterfly conservation (De Vlinderstichting), Wageningen. November, 1998.

*ALEXANOR'S office information in Ukraine is available.

This page was created for "ALEXANOR" (Company for Scientific Implementation )

by S.G. Popov (Last update November, 26, 1998)

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