Sir David Attenborough warns butterflies could die out

Aislinn Simpson, The Telegraph 17 Jul 08;

Sir David Attenborough warned that butterflies could die out unless something is done to help them as he launched a rescue plan to boost their numbers.

The BBC natural history presenter cautioned Britain could be entering a "post-butterfly era" because natural habits have been ploughed up or become overgrown.

He has set out plans to establish 20 locations in areas including Dartmoor in Devon, the Argyll Islands and the New Forest in Hampshire, where farmers and landowners will be urged to restore habitats and encourage butterflies to return.

The Butterfly Conservation scheme has already brought results in Dartmoor, where the rare Marsh Fritillary is staging a comeback. Sir David said: "Almost unbelievably, much of Britain's countryside is a no-go area for many favourite butterflies.

"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."

Butterfly numbers have been in decline ever since the onset of intensive farming practices using pesticides and fertilisers in the 1950s. Among species under threat is the Adonis Blue, which makes its home around areas of short-grazed grass in the Dorset Downs, and the Silver Spotted Skipper, which prefers the chalk downs of the Chilterns.

Sir David launched his Butterfly Survival Zones today at the Natural History Museum in London, which is hosting the Amazing Butterflies exhibition. The charity Butterfly Conservation, which this year celebrates its 40th birthday, is behind the scheme.

Its chief executive Dr Martin Warren said that butterflies are not just pretty additions to the natural environment but "nature's messengers".

"Because butterflies are small, they react quicker than most other species and so act as a kind of warning system about damaging changes to the countryside and the climate," he said.

Despite the additional pressures of fuel and food prices on farmers at present, he insisted that all of those in the pilot scheme on Dartmoor had responded well when approached by the charity. Butterfly Conservation helps farmers apply for EU grants promoting eco-farming, so providing a good habit for butterflies can work in their favour, he said.

"The 20 areas we have picked are absolutely crucial to the survival of some of our rarest butterflies," he said. "We are confident we can restore butterfly numbers, provided we do the right thing in these areas."