Thursday, March 02, 2006

England's Butterflies: 30% drop in 10 Years, says DEFRA

Today the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) reports that butterfly numbers across England have fallen by 30% in the last 10 years. The study was carried out by the charitable organisation, Butterfly Conservation, which reported last month on the serious decline in the moth population. The study tracked 40 butterfly species across more than 800 sites, almost half of which are "agri-environment" sites, that is, they are covered by Environmental Stewardship schemes.

The reports main conclusion is that well-informed land management can successfully conserve species, but that there is a lot of work to be done in getting those who manage the land up to speed. Those who manage land need to understand the specific habitat requirements of particular species.

Let's hope they can turn things round. 30% in 10 years is a serious decline.

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