State of butterflies
Butterflies are inhabiting our planet over 150 mlns of years. During that period they not just survived in a tough competition, but have outlived several epochs of forming of the fauna of our planet. Moreover, they have occupied almost all the terrestrial areas: from tropics to tundra and from dry deserts to high-mountains. At current there are over 100 thousand species of butterflies inhabiting the Earth: these species have been able to adapt for the natural changes. Industrial changes resulted in dramatic increase of human population of the Earth, which grew up more than twice during last 20 years. It inevitably causes more intensive use of natural resources. Among consequences are current degradation of forests, grasslands, freshwater ecosystems, and biodiversity. Disappearance of natural habitats under human influence takes place with a speed that exceeds ability of most of plants and animals to become adapted. Butterflies are not an exception, distinctly demonstrating negative consequences of non-rational use of nature. Serious decline of their populations down to species extinction is observed in entire world. As a response to this tendency the scientists, conservationists, and nature-lovers in many countries have been united, in order to coordinate the works on protection of endangered butterfly species, and on conservation and restoration of their habitats. In Europe the umbrella organization, Butterfly Conservation Europe, was created in November of 2004, and is aimed at stimulation and co-ordination of conservation action for butterflies, moths and their habitats. A practical work in European countries (The Netherlands; United Kingdom; Germany; France; Spain; Belgium; Denmark; Austria; Ireland; Lithuania and number of others) is implemented by largest organizations in the field of butterfly conservation, and Armenia has joined them rather recently.
Caucasus region and Armenian Highland in particular historically have been attracting entomologists for implementation of lepidopterological studies, since long-term isolation and complex relief have formed wide variety of habitats, but meanwhile became an obstacle for intensive studies. The greatest entomologists of the last century have dedicated significant amount of time studying the butterfly fauna of the region (History), and have described over 100 species and subspecies. Having shared that passion and being inspired by opportunities of new discoveries, we from 1993 have started studies of butterfly fauna of Armenia, and have focused our activities in the territories of Central Armenia. Few years after we have started study of butterflies of more remote regions of Armenia: Shirak, Tavush, Vayots Dzor, and Syunik, identifying peculiarities of species composition, and forming more comprehensive understanding of the butterfly fauna. Fairly small area of Armenia became an advantage, allowing us to visit the same areas of data collection several times per annum during the next eight years. The results of these activities were intensive growth of number of records and extensive enlargement of data collection sites.
In the same time the social-economic changes in the Republic have caused intensification of agricultural and industrial activities and occupation of new lands, and that resulted in new conquest on natural habitats. In response to this tendency number of new protected areas was created. One of the most important components for creation of new protected area was existence of baseline data on biodiversity, and for further management of the area – installation of a system of regular monitoring.
In some extent that was an impetus for us to rethink some of the approaches in accordance to the new challenges. So a need emerged to study the best practices of colleagues from Europe to develop a system of regular monitoring of butterflies, and its subsequent introduction as a tool for biodiversity management. Thus, since 2003, we have been intensively introducing new practices in data collection, which became the basis for the formation of Armenia's first database and allowed to apply the new methods to the study of distribution and abundance of butterflies.
In addition, we have evaluated the national conservation status for butterflies of Armenia (Approach: species conservation status). This led to the following results, that today in Armenia there are 11 species (5%) which correspond to the category CR, 18 species (8%) – to the category EN, 22 species (9%) – to the category VU, 39 species (17%) – to the category NT, 24 species (9%) – to the category DD, and 122 species (52%) – to the category LC. Of these, 3 CR species are endangered globally since they are represented by two or three populations throughout the world and, accordingly, are candidates for nomination to the IUCN Red List. It is necessary to note that in the current Red Book of Animals of the Republic of Armenia (2010) there are only 24 species represented.
Caucasus region and Armenian Highland in particular historically have been attracting entomologists for implementation of lepidopterological studies, since long-term isolation and complex relief have formed wide variety of habitats, but meanwhile became an obstacle for intensive studies. The greatest entomologists of the last century have dedicated significant amount of time studying the butterfly fauna of the region (History), and have described over 100 species and subspecies. Having shared that passion and being inspired by opportunities of new discoveries, we from 1993 have started studies of butterfly fauna of Armenia, and have focused our activities in the territories of Central Armenia. Few years after we have started study of butterflies of more remote regions of Armenia: Shirak, Tavush, Vayots Dzor, and Syunik, identifying peculiarities of species composition, and forming more comprehensive understanding of the butterfly fauna. Fairly small area of Armenia became an advantage, allowing us to visit the same areas of data collection several times per annum during the next eight years. The results of these activities were intensive growth of number of records and extensive enlargement of data collection sites.
In the same time the social-economic changes in the Republic have caused intensification of agricultural and industrial activities and occupation of new lands, and that resulted in new conquest on natural habitats. In response to this tendency number of new protected areas was created. One of the most important components for creation of new protected area was existence of baseline data on biodiversity, and for further management of the area – installation of a system of regular monitoring.
In some extent that was an impetus for us to rethink some of the approaches in accordance to the new challenges. So a need emerged to study the best practices of colleagues from Europe to develop a system of regular monitoring of butterflies, and its subsequent introduction as a tool for biodiversity management. Thus, since 2003, we have been intensively introducing new practices in data collection, which became the basis for the formation of Armenia's first database and allowed to apply the new methods to the study of distribution and abundance of butterflies.
In addition, we have evaluated the national conservation status for butterflies of Armenia (Approach: species conservation status). This led to the following results, that today in Armenia there are 11 species (5%) which correspond to the category CR, 18 species (8%) – to the category EN, 22 species (9%) – to the category VU, 39 species (17%) – to the category NT, 24 species (9%) – to the category DD, and 122 species (52%) – to the category LC. Of these, 3 CR species are endangered globally since they are represented by two or three populations throughout the world and, accordingly, are candidates for nomination to the IUCN Red List. It is necessary to note that in the current Red Book of Animals of the Republic of Armenia (2010) there are only 24 species represented.
Habitat loss
Armenia
is a small-sized mountainous country, with wide diversity of various
grasslands, forests, and wetlands. Grasslands,
which constitute 83.3% of the republic have been occupied rather intensively –
by 60%. Among threats caused by intensive agricultural and industrial activities, the cultivation
of arable lands under different crops, and ubiquitous and often
poorly-controlled grazing of cattle, sheep and goats, are taking a special place, leading to a large-scale
change in vegetation and often resulting in erosion. The degradation of grassland
habitats has contributed to a significant reduction of abundance in over 30 species of butterflies from about 100
grassland specialists. However, mining, though occupies relatively small area, leads to dramatic changes in the ecosystem.
Forests in Armenia occupy about 12% of the country. Almost 40% of forests are subject to regular logging, which leads to thinning of forests, reducing shady areas, fragmentation of forest areas and aridization. The latter, is in significant scale influenced also by climate change. According to our observations, 25 species of butterflies out of over 60 forest specialists, demonstrate tendency of abundance decline being sensitive towards changes in forest ecosystems (project report “Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts in Mountain Forest Ecosystems of Armenia”).
Wetlands make around 4.7% of the area of Armenia, being represented by lakes, rivers, swamps and wet meadows; the species composition of butterflies here is not diverse, and is represented by 5 species, however, in their native conditions, these habitats have been preserved mainly in protected areas. At current, Armenia has two reserves, three national parks, one biosphere complex, and 24 preserves. It should be noted that the network of protected areas has evolved significantly over the last time, expanding the total area of from about 4% to over 13%. As an example, one can look at fairly recently organized National Park “Lake Arpi” that is a home to unique flora and fauna of north-eastern Armenia. Solving the issue of securing the protection of butterfly habitats in Armenia is possible with strengthening of protection measures in existing protected areas, expanding their networks and by developing of sustainable management of natural resources in the non-protected territories. What we doTaking the mentioned above into consideration, the main efforts of Butterfly Conservation Armenia are focused on protection of diversity of butterflies and their habitats in Armenia
through development of long-term, sustainable, and harmonious relations between
natural ecosystems and human economic activities.
We plan to achieve that through the following activities:
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Photo: G.Khanamirian
Photo: G. Khanamirian
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Partner organizations
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