David Attenborough launches UK Butterfly Survival Zones

29/07/2008 13:05:39 July 2008. Many experts think that butterfly numbers in many areas of the UK are at an all-time summer low. In response, Sir David Attenborough has launched a new national strategy to save some of Britain's rarest butterflies from possible extinction.

In a bid to reverse the decline in butterfly numbers, Sir David has designated 20 UK landscapes as Butterfly Survival Zones. These zones will become the focus of efforts to save Britain's butterflies.

Butterfly no-go zones
Sir David said: "Almost unbelievably, much of Britain's countryside is a no-go area for many favourite butterflies. Habitat has been ploughed up or become overgrown. Anybody who's been for a country walk recently will tell you butterflies are a rarity. Scientists fear that in some areas we're entering a post-butterfly era."

Sir David made his announcement at the Natural History Museum in London, which is hosting the Amazing Butterflies exhibition.

Habitat landscapes
Butterfly Conservation Chief Executive Dr Martin Warren said: "Butterflies may be tiny, but to save them you have to think big. A small colony of butterflies is always vulnerable. A vast chain of habitats is needed to let them spread and establish new colonies. Butterfly Conservation is already talking to many hundreds of landowners and plans to talk to thousands more over coming years. They'll be urged to use Government grants to restore habitat on farms and estates in the 20 zones. The aim is to achieve entire landscapes with suitable habitat."

Butterfly Conservation
Butterfly Conservation is 40 years old this year. It was conceived when amateur naturalists realised the disastrous affect the introduction of intensive agriculture in the 1950s was having on butterfly numbers.

Dr Warren said: "Butterfly numbers are still declining at an alarming rate, but we have proved that we can reverse declines when we intervene. That means involving thousands of people to ensure farming and butterflies can co-exist. Today marks the start of our biggest intervention yet with the establishment of Butterfly Survival Zones in these 20 key landscapes."

20 Butterfly Survival Zones

A. Dartmoor
The High Brown Fritillary and Marsh Fritillary butterflies are found on the moor, which offers three vital habitat features - bracken slopes, moorland edge, and wet grassland.
Scores of farmers and landowners have been persuaded to revert to traditional practices that benefit butterflies, including traditional grazing by cattle and Dartmoor ponies.
B. Culm Grasslands
Vital flower-rich grasslands have been lost at an alarming rate - over 90% in the last 15 years. As a result, butterfly populations such as those of the Marsh Fritillary have become isolated and can quickly die out.
A pioneering Butterfly Conservation project has encouraged dozens of neighbouring farmers to adopt butterfly-friendly land management and to access to green farming grants.
C. Exmoor, Devon
The moor offers the Heath Fritillary and High Brown Fritillary the large expanses of land and sheltered valleys they need to survive.
Butterfly Conservation is working with more than 50 landowners, advising them on how to manage land for butterflies by re-instating traditional grazing and occasional burning which are essential to maintain open, sunny habitats for butterflies.
D. Dorset Downs
This is the UK stronghold of the rare Adonis Blue. There are also important colonies of the Marsh Fritillary and Duke of Burgundy.
Thanks to careful management by local farmers, green farming grants and advice from Butterfly Conservation, several threatened species have begun to flourish again.
E. Polden Hills
These limestone hills are the main stronghold of the globally endangered Large Blue, which has been successfully re-introduced here over the last two decades.
Butterfly Conservation is working with several conservation bodies to manage the flower-rich grassland on which the Large Blue thrives.
F. New Forest
New Forest heathland is a stronghold for two rare species - Silver-studded Blue and Grayling. The woodlands have important populations of Pearl-bordered Fritillary and White Admiral.
Butterfly Conservation works closely with the Forestry Commission to ensure management of key woodlands within this new National Park.
G. Salisbury Plain
Military exercises have helped conserve the globally threatened Marsh Fritillary. Explosions and exercises help to germinate seeds of the caterpillar's food plant, Devil's-bit Scabious.
Butterfly Conservation has been working with the Defence Estates and Natural England to re-introduce extensive grazing to maintain the flower-rich grassland that benefits this species.
H. South Downs and West Weald
Ancient woodlands are refuges for the Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Purple Emperor. The chalk grasslands make this area perfect for the rare Adonis Blue and Silver-spotted Skipper.
Butterfly Conservation's South-East Woodlands Project works with well over 200 landowners and conservation partners to create open, sunny habitats for butterflies. On the Downs, the main effort is to ensure continuation of traditional grazing.
I. The Blean
This is home to over half the UK's Heath Fritillary population. The species has been rescued from the brink of extinction thanks to the efforts of Butterfly Conservation and its partners.
Kent's largest woodland needs traditional coppice management to create sunny glades for the rare species that live there. Butterfly Conservation is working with landowners to achieve this.
J. The Chilterns
The Silver Spotted Skipper, which has declined rapidly over the last 50 years, thrives on south facing downland slopes. The rare Wood White, Purple Emperor and Black Hairstreak butterflies thrive in nearby woods.
Butterfly Conservation is advising landowners on grassland and woodland management. Key sites are being monitored to ensure breeding conditions for butterflies are maintained.
K. The Cotswolds
This area is home to some of our rarest species including the once-extinct Large Blue and the threatened Duke of Burgundy.
Butterfly Conservation is aiming to expand keys sites which require management to prevent butterfly extinctions in the future.
L. South Wales Coalfields
The flower-rich grasslands of this region are home to rare butterflies including the Marbled White, Marsh Fritillary and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary.
Butterfly Conservation Wales is working with scores of smallholders to preserve the wet grasslands of South Wales. It also works to restore traditional cattle and pony grazing to the region.
M. Norfolk Broads
The special fenland habitat required by the largest and most exotic of our butterflies, the Swallowtail, has been reduced by 99% in the UK.
The butterfly thrives thanks to careful management of a network of nature reserves, including Butterfly Conservation's reserve at Catfield Fen.
N. Midlands Brownfields
Former industrial sites can be a haven for butterflies. These sites include quarries, landfill sites, ex-coalfields and demolished factories.
Butterfly Conservation is working with several major quarry owners and developers to ensure key sites are protected, and that butterfly habitats are created in new developments.
O. North York Moors
The area is home to colonies of the Duke of Burgundy butterfly. The numbers of this species have more than halved in the last 20 years.
Butterfly Conservation is continuing with the large-scale habitat management that has resulted in a marked increase in Duke of Burgundy numbers.
P. Morecambe Bay Limestones
The area has the UK's largest populations of the High Brown Fritillary, the nation's fastest declining butterfly. However, even around Morecombe Bay, numbers have begun to fall.
The Morecambe Bay Limestones Project just launched by Butterfly Conservation will reverse declines by improving existing sites and creating new areas for the butterfly to expand into.
Q. Fermanagh Grasslands
This is the best and largest area for the Marsh Fritillary in the Northern Ireland.
Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland is working with landowners to advise them on managing the area for the species.
R. Argyll Islands
This is arguably the best region for the endangered Marsh Fritillary in Europe. Pasture is traditionally grazed by cattle, which maintain the flower-rich habitats favoured by the butterfly.
Butterfly Conservation Scotland is negotiating with landowners on maintaining habitats for this and other butterflies.
S. North Argyll
This stunning mosaic of different habitats is the last remaining UK refuge of the Chequered Skipper, which died out in England in 1976. The rare Pearl-bordered Fritillary also thrives here.
Butterfly Conservation Scotland is talking with over 30 landowners, crofters, and farmers on how to best manage their land to help these and other butterflies.
T. Highland Perthshire
Numbers of the Pearl-bordered Fritillary have more than halved across the UK in recent years. Maintaining populations in this region is key to the survival of the species. Butterfly Conservation works with landowners to create the perfect woodland habitat for the Pearl-bordered Fritillary in the mountain valleys of the region.