[LUM#6] On the butterfly trail
Tigers and rhinos are not the only endangered animal species. Two student associations have decided to come to the rescue of small wildlife: their initiative, called "butterfly route," is brilliant in its simplicity.
What if butterflies disappeared? In 2013, alerted by alarming publications (see box), the association Étudiants pour un développement durable associatif (EDDA) discovered that these essential pollinators are seriously threatened by human activities. Climate change, pesticides, the conversion of grasslands into agricultural land, an increase in fires, and the development of tourism could well banish these delicate winged flowers from our landscapes.
Fragile migrants
Some of them are migratory birds: coming from the distant coasts of Africa, they have always flown on the wings of the prevailing winds that carry them across the Strait of Gibraltar to northern Europe. But today, almost insurmountable obstacles stand in their way: cities, highways, and parking lots fragment populations, disrupt their habitat, and deprive them of certain vital plants.
How can we help butterflies? The idea is simple: create gardens in every city where they can find shelter and the plants they need to survive. To set up this network, known as the "butterfly route," EDDA is working with the Montpellier Botanical Garden and another association: the naturalists of Gnaum.1. The result: the first garden was created in Montpellier in February 2014. Since then, three others have been set up in the heart of the city. They feature the butterflies' favorite plants: lavender, thyme, thistle, mallow, and even nettles.
Miniature oases
"By planting these plants, which have become rare in cities, a whole network of life is recreated in a very short time: we see the reappearance of migratory and local butterflies, but also ants, aphids, ladybugs, bees...," says Aymeric Brissaud, president of Gnaum. Many city dwellers are unaware of this, but cities can be rich in biodiversity just waiting to flourish. The "butterfly route" will benefit many endangered insects."
Especially since the experiment is intended to be rolled out more widely: "We have put in place a scientific protocol to monitor our approach. Our goal now is to spread it throughout Europe." The latest development in the project is to offer every city dweller the chance to hang their own planter, made from recycled wooden pallets, on their balcony. This network of micro-gardens is very useful for small urban wildlife and has another benefit: it raises public awareness. It also involves the public in an adventure that will only achieve its goal if miniature oases spring up everywhere.
A worrying decline
As early as 2012, a report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) stated that half of all butterflies had disappeared from European grasslands in 20 years. This trend was confirmed by a recent study by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): 19 species of Mediterranean butterflies are threatened with extinction, 15 of which are endemic to the region.
(The status and distribution of Mediterranean butterflies, IUCN, 2016)
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- Montpellier University Naturalist Group ↩︎