Study

A review of butterfly conservation in central southern Britain: I. Protection, evaluation and extinction on prime sites

  • Published source details Warren M.S. (1993) A review of butterfly conservation in central southern Britain: I. Protection, evaluation and extinction on prime sites. Biological Conservation, 64, 25-35.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Legally protect habitat

Action Link
Butterfly and Moth Conservation
  1. Legally protect habitat

    A replicated, site comparison study in 1980–1984 in woodland, grassland and heathland sites (number not given) in central southern England, UK (Warren 1993) found that legally protected Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) had lost a similar number of threatened butterfly species as unprotected sites. In the first three years after SSSI designation was introduced, the extinction rate of threatened butterflies on protected sites (8.6%/decade) was not statistically different from unprotected sites (11.6%/decade). In 1981, sites containing important species were designated as statutory SSSIs under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. The number of extinctions of 29 threatened butterfly species from individual sites between 1980 and 1984 was recorded (no further details provided).

    (Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)

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