 Family Lycaenidae, Western Cape © JP Brouard |
CapeNature agreement with LepSoc boosts butterfly, moth conservation PRESS RELEASE
issued by CapeNature and |
The protection and ongoing survival of threatened endemic butterflies and moths in the Western Cape has received a major shot-in-the-arm following a partnership between CapeNature and the Lepidopterists' Society of Africa (LepSoc).
This partnership was cemented recently with the signing of a formal memorandum of agreement between CapeNature and LepSoc.
The process was driven through a series of meetings and discussions spearheaded by CapeNature's Dr Kas Hamman, Director of Biodiversity and Hermann Staude, President of LepSoc.
Says Staude: "This agreement has come about following the resolution of issues and a mutual understanding of the roles that the two organisations can play in ensuring that future generations of South Africans will be able to see the Cape's endemic butterflies in their natural habitats. "
"For CapeNature this agreement is a logical step as part of our broader process and initiative actively and constructively to involve public and community interest groups in collaborative mechanisms for sustainable use and appreciation of the wonderful value and beauty of our unique biodiversity in the Western Cape," says Dr Hamman.
He adds that conservation organisations in the country in general have virtually no entomological expertise on their staff establishments and this agreement makes a significant contribution to addressing a long-standing knowledge gap.
"It is thus with enthusiasm and optimism that CapeNature enters into this exciting agreement with a society of naturalists that are fully prepared to take responsibility for their own actions and to play a collaborative role in conserving our natural biodiversity."
Staude says that LepSoc vigorously pursued
the partnership with CapeNature because there are so many
endemic and special Lepidoptera in the Western Cape whose
habitat is under threat. "Now we are able to get
highly experienced amateur lepidopterists who have specialist
knowledge onto the ground and assist CapeNature to ensure
that today's Lepidoptera are conserved into the future."
Of particular concern in the Western Cape are butterflies
of the family Lycaenidae, a high percentage of which are
endemics found only in SA. Of the 234 butterfly species
known to inhabit the Cape, more than half are lycaenids.
They usually occur in very limited areas with specific
host plants and ant species essential to their life cycle
and hence are extremely vulnerable.
Most of the Lycaenidae in the Cape which are threatened with extinction are in this precarious position because of habitat destruction fuelled by rapid development and urbanisation. To ensure they are preserved, their distribution needs to be well documented to ensure they can be protected. Emphasis also needs to be placed on the discovery of new localities, requiring ongoing fieldwork.
Some LepSoc members have been involved for a number of years in ensuring that rare, highly localised and extremely threatened species, such as the Brenton Blue (a lycaenid), survive. This has entailed extensive field studies covering the entire life cycle and programmes to introduce the butterflies back into previous localities where they had become extinct as well as into other areas where the food plant, host ant, aspect, temperature range and conditions match known localities.
Quite a few of the Lycaenidae in the Cape are known only from one or two very restricted localities and it is hoped that with more experienced lepidopterists on the ground engaged in fieldwork, more localities will be discovered.
Dr Jonathan Ball, a prominent lepidopterist for many years in the Cape and chairman of LepSoc's Western Cape branch, says time is of the essence and that it is imperative that the Society works hand-in-hand with CapeNature actively to conserve threatened species.
"A major stumbling block for many years has been the fact that inadequate legislation developed to protect mammalian species has also been applied to insects," says Dr Ball. "It simply does not work. With the new agreement we can now legally work together to overcome problems and conduct the critical field work that will give us the knowledge to ensure the survival of endangered butterflies and moths."
Dr Martin Krüger, head of the Department of Invertebrates at the Transvaal Museum, NFI, which houses the most comprehensive collection of southern African Lepidoptera in the world, says he is "keenly aware of the contribution so-called amateurs can and do make to knowledge gathering" and in conducting field work. "As the only professional entomologist in this country focused on Lepidoptera I was delighted to learn of the partnership entered into by CapeNature Conservation and the Lepidopterists' Society of Africa. Hopefully, it will prove a major step forward in the co-operation between all those interested in the conservation of our rich butterfly and moth fauna, and both parties are to be congratulated on achieving this."
Dr Mervyn Mansell, past editor of African Entomology, an acknowledged world expert on Neuroptera (lacewings/ant-lions) and an agricultural scientist for USDA-APHIS in Pretoria, says the agreement shows that the authorities are beginning to appreciate the value of the knowledge and commitment of the "amateur" fraternity in the conservation of Lepidoptera. "I believe that this type of partnership is of inestimable importance and that it is a ground-breaking first step in making best use of specialist knowledge and expertise to preserve our environmental heritage."
LepSoc is also in partnership with the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the Avian Demography Unit (University of Cape Town) in the four-year SABCA (SA Butterfly Conservation Assessment) project aimed at determining the distribution and conservation priorities of all butterfly species in the South African region, especially those threatened with extinction.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
1. CapeNature - Dr Kas Hamman/Dion Hignett
Tel: 021 659 3413/3466
Email: Khamman@capenature.co.za
Website: www.capenature.co.za
2. LepSoc Africa - Hermann Staude
Tel: 082 651-9004
Dr Jonathan Ball
Tel: 083 230-2505
ISSUED BY: CapeNature & LepSoc Africa
Liesl Baadjies
Public Relations Officer - CapeNature
Cell: 072 488 6768
Email: lbaadjies@capenature.co.za
Website: www.capenature.co.za
