The 5th Butterfly Census Meeting, organised by the Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE) of the Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra (FCTUC), will take place from 23 to 25 May at the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park and the Central das Artes in Porto de Mós. The event is part of the project Pollination - Action Plan for the Conservation and Sustainability of Pollinators.
Organised in collaboration with Tagis – Butterfly Conservation Centre, it will bring together volunteers, nature wardens, municipal officials and members of environmental NGOs to share and analyse the results of six years of butterfly monitoring in Portugal. The programme includes the launch of two guides, as well as two public events: a night-time butterfly observation session on Friday 23 May, and a field trip for butterfly observation and identification on Sunday 25 May.
The Butterfly Census, launched in 2019, is part of the European Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (eBMS). It involves the regular counting of individual butterflies of each species over several years. This monitoring uses a standardised methodology adopted across Europe that allows for the calculation of ecological indicators, comparisons between different sites, and the assessment of butterfly and other insect population trends.
"In addition to their beauty, butterflies are also bioindicators. This means that by studying their diversity and abundance, we can estimate that of other, lesser-known insects which are more difficult to monitor. Butterflies respond quickly to environmental changes, so they can also provide insights into the health of habitats and the effectiveness of land management practices," explains Eva Monteiro, a researcher at CFE/FCTUC and coordinator of the Butterfly Census.
The meeting is funded by Butterfly Conservation Europe, the European Butterfly Group, and SGS, with additional support from ICNF, the Porto de Mós Municipal Council, and Alvados Youth Hostel. For more information or to register, email censosborboletasdeportugal@gmail.com with the subject ‘Butterfly Census Registration’. Please specify the activities you wish to register for and the number of participants.
