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The European Grassland Butterfly Indicator: 1990–2011

van Swaay, Chris ; van Strien, Arco ; Harpke, Alexander ; Fontaine, Benoît ; Stefanescu, Constantí ; Roy, David ; Kühn, Elisabeth ; Õnuao, Erki ; Regan, Eugenie and Švitra, Giedrius , et al. (2013) In EEA Technical Reports
Abstract
This report presents the European Grassland Butterfly Indicator, based on national Butterfly Monitoring Schemes (BMS) in 19 countries across Europe, most of them in the European Union.



The indicator shows that since 1990 till 2011 butterfly populations have declined by almost

50 %, indicating a dramatic loss of grassland biodiversity. This also means the situation has not improved since the first version of the indicator published in 2005.



Of the 17 species, 8 have declined in Europe, 2 have remained stable and 1 increased. For six species the trend is uncertain.



The main driver behind the decline of grassland butterflies is the change in rural land use: agricultural... (More)
This report presents the European Grassland Butterfly Indicator, based on national Butterfly Monitoring Schemes (BMS) in 19 countries across Europe, most of them in the European Union.



The indicator shows that since 1990 till 2011 butterfly populations have declined by almost

50 %, indicating a dramatic loss of grassland biodiversity. This also means the situation has not improved since the first version of the indicator published in 2005.



Of the 17 species, 8 have declined in Europe, 2 have remained stable and 1 increased. For six species the trend is uncertain.



The main driver behind the decline of grassland butterflies is the change in rural land use: agricultural intensification where the land is relatively flat and easy to cultivate, and abandonment in mountains and wet areas, mainly in eastern and southern Europe.



Agricultural intensification leads to uniform, almost sterile grasslands for biodiversity. Grassland butterflies thus mainly survive in traditionally farmed low‑input systems (High Nature Value (HNV) Farmland) as well as nature reserves, and on marginal land such as road verges and amenity areas. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
@techreport{b9bdbd32-cdf5-4f83-be6f-67eacac0c049,
  abstract     = {{This report presents the European Grassland Butterfly Indicator, based on national Butterfly Monitoring Schemes (BMS) in 19 countries across Europe, most of them in the European Union.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
The indicator shows that since 1990 till 2011 butterfly populations have declined by almost<br/><br>
50 %, indicating a dramatic loss of grassland biodiversity. This also means the situation has not improved since the first version of the indicator published in 2005.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Of the 17 species, 8 have declined in Europe, 2 have remained stable and 1 increased. For six species the trend is uncertain.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
The main driver behind the decline of grassland butterflies is the change in rural land use: agricultural intensification where the land is relatively flat and easy to cultivate, and abandonment in mountains and wet areas, mainly in eastern and southern Europe.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Agricultural intensification leads to uniform, almost sterile grasslands for biodiversity. Grassland butterflies thus mainly survive in traditionally farmed low‑input systems (High Nature Value (HNV) Farmland) as well as nature reserves, and on marginal land such as road verges and amenity areas.}},
  author       = {{van Swaay, Chris and van Strien, Arco and Harpke, Alexander and Fontaine, Benoît and Stefanescu, Constantí and Roy, David and Kühn, Elisabeth and Õnuao, Erki and Regan, Eugenie and Švitra, Giedrius and Prokofev, Igor and Heliölä, Janne and Settele, Josef and Pettersson, Lars and Botham, Marc and Musche, Martin and Titeux, Nicolas and Cornish, Nina and Leopold, Patrick and Juillard, Romain and Verovnik, Rudi and Öberg, Sandra and Popov, Sergey and Collins, Sue and Goloschchapova, Svetlana and Roth, Tobias and Brereton, Tom and Warren, Martin}},
  institution  = {{European Environment Agency}},
  issn         = {{1725-2237}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{11/2013}},
  series       = {{EEA Technical Reports}},
  title        = {{The European Grassland Butterfly Indicator: 1990–2011}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2800/89760}},
  doi          = {{10.2800/89760}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}