A Code of Practice for Butterfly Recording and Photography in Europe

Introduction

Butterfly Conservation has a code of practice on collecting, breeding and photography, which is focussed on the UK.  It was also represented on the joint Committee for the Conservation of British Invertebrates that published a ‘Code of Conduct for Collecting Insects and other Invertebrates’ in 2002.  This code recognises that collecting for scientific purposes is a legitimate scientific activity and that for some groups as it is difficult to determine the live insect.  Members of Butterfly Conservation’s European Interests Group wish to adopt a stronger code of conduct that precludes ‘collecting’ in order to assure National Park and other Authorities in Europe that their activities will not be detrimental to populations of butterflies. Their purpose is to give those authorities sufficient assurances so that they can obtain permission to use nets in order to correctly identify butterfly species.  This code of conduct not only regulates activities in the field but also the publication of information on the precise location of rare butterfly species and the dissemination of information to others which in the hands of unscrupulous collectors could damage populations of rare butterflies.  There are many parts of Europe where the use of nets is prohibited.  Signing up to this protocol does not mean that the individual does not need to comply with local laws.  The idea is to facilitate permission to use nets and to allay the suspicions of authorities where nets are being used without permission.

Signatories to the EIG Code of practice will therefore:

1.      Capture and release butterflies in the field unharmed where they are found.

2.      Only handle butterflies for the purpose of identification, which may include the examination of the genitalia with a hand lens.

3.      Only retain insects in tubes, jars or boxes for the minimum of time ensuring that these are kept cool and in the shade.  This may be necessary for the identification to be checked by a colleague.  Cooling specimens for photographic purposes must not harm the butterfly, which must be released where it was caught.

4.      Use close focus binoculars where capture with a net is not necessary

5.      Make minimal impact on the habitat by way of trampling

6.      Where collections are retained by individuals who have collected butterflies in the past the individual undertakes not to add to that collection except by receipt of donated collected material that would otherwise be neglected.

7.      Submit records to any authority that issues a licence to use nets and endeavour to make the records available to the partners of Butterfly Conservation Europe.

8.      Butterfly eggs or larvae should only be removed from the environment for a specific scientific purpose and any subsequent adults that emerge should be released where they were found.  For UK visitors to Europe this will mean that eggs and larvae will not be removed from the wild.

Vulnerable and very local species

For a restricted number of very local species (List A) where collecting is known to be a problem a stricter protocol will apply unless part of a fully authorised scientific study.

1.      No nets will be used in order that there is no confusion over the complete prohibition of using nets in the colony area EVEN IF A PERMIT HAS BEEN OBTAINED.

2.      The species will not be handled

3.      The exact location of the site will not be published on the internet or in scientific literature (though its occurrence at the 10k square level may be published) except as part of a CONFIDENTIAL report for which a non disclosure agreement must be signed for.

4.      The exact location of the site will only be passed verbally or by email to signatories of this code of conduct or persons of similar integrity.

List A – Vulnerable and very local species

Borbo borbonica

Euchloe bazae

Turanana endymion (in Europe)

Lycaena thetis (in Europe)

Agrodiaetus humedasae

Agrodiaetus iphigenia

Agrodiaetus exuberans

Agrodiaetus violetae

Agrodiaetus orphicus

Pseudophilotes bavius

Agriades zullichi

Cupido carswelli

Boloria improba

Melitaea aetherie

Coenonympha oedippus

Coenonympha hero

Erebia christi

Pseudochazara amymone

Pseudochazara cingowskii

EIG is working on the suggestion is that members of EIG who sign up to this protocol can obtain from EIG a certificate with the EIG Logo, possibly the BC logo, and a copy of the protocol on the back together with graphics and multilingual text that indicates that the owner of the certificate, laminated + a photo, is not a collector.  There would be a cost for this service.  Certificates would only be issued to people known to EIG or on recommendation of a BC branch official.  We might also ask Tour operators to sign up to the code of practice.  This protocol would be circulated to BCE members, National Park authorities & colleagues.  When we have fully explored all the issues involved with issuing a certificate and are in a position to issue a certificate we will put an online application form here for EIG members.

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Copyright © 2006-2009 Butterfly Conservation European Interests Group
Last modified: March 27, 2009