Butterfly Conservation is urging the Government to declare a ‘Nature Emergency’ after alarming results from the 2024 Big Butterfly Count revealed a sharp decline in butterfly populations. The charity is calling for an immediate ban on harmful neonicotinoid pesticides to prevent further damage to butterfly species and other wildlife.
This year’s Big Butterfly Count recorded the lowest number of butterflies per survey in its 14-year history, with participants spotting an average of just seven butterflies in a 15-minute period – a nearly 50% drop from last year’s figure of 12. A third of all species had their worst year on record, and over 9,000 surveys reported no butterfly sightings at all, a troubling first for the annual citizen science initiative.
The summer of 2024 was particularly poor for species such as the Common Blue, Holly Blue, Green-veined White, Small White, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady, and Scotch Argus, with 81% of all species showing a decline compared to the previous year. In total, just over 935,000 butterflies and day-flying moths were recorded, a significant decrease from 2023’s count by nearly 600,000 individuals.
The dramatic drop in butterfly sightings has prompted Butterfly Conservation to declare a national ‘Butterfly Emergency,’ warning that these numbers reflect a larger environmental crisis.
Dr. Richard Fox, Butterfly Conservation’s Head of Science, said: “This year’s count shows an average of just seven butterflies per survey, 22% lower than the previous record low in 2022. Notably, a third of species had their worst-ever year. Butterflies are key indicator species, and when they struggle, it signals wider environmental issues. Nature is sending us a warning, and we must act now to halt these rapid declines and protect species for future generations.”
Butterfly Conservation is drafting an open letter to Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, urging the Government to declare a ‘Nature Emergency’ and to ban neonicotinoid pesticides, which are known to harm butterflies and other insects. Many European countries have already banned these chemicals, and the charity is pressing the UK to follow suit.
Dr. Fox explained: “Neonicotinoids used in farming end up in wild plants at field edges, contaminating the nectar and plants that adult butterflies and caterpillars rely on. If we don’t tackle these long-term threats, we risk unprecedented extinction events.”
This year, over 85,000 citizen scientists took part in the Big Butterfly Count, submitting 143,241 surveys, equating to 35,810 hours spent monitoring butterfly populations in gardens, parks, and natural areas across the UK.
Dr. Fox concluded: “If everyone who took part in the Count this year signs our letter to the Government, we could make a real difference in preventing the extinction of species within our lifetimes.”
