Milan Ilić
Other projects
26 May 2020
Impact of Fires on Threatened Butterfly Species in South-Eastern Serbia and Rising Capacity for Biodiversity Conservation
In recent years, wildfires have become more frequent in the territory of the Republic of Serbia. Large areas of high mountainous, untouched areas, especially those under domestic protection, are increasingly damaged by uncontrolled wildfires. Such areas are extremely important both at the national and regional level due to the existence of a large number of rare and endangered species, endemics, relicts, etc. The recovery from wildfires is very difficult and time-consuming process that often requires the involvement of experts and competent institutions in order to avoid catastrophic consequences.
Lycaena helle.
We have been dealing with this topic for a long time, and since 2019, when the implementation of the first Grant began, we have focused our activities on natural rarities i.e., few species most likely to have suffered fire damage. In this regard, this project is a continuation of this study, i.e. the establishment of a monitoring program of three rare species (Lycaena helle, Boloria eunomia and Erebia orientalis). As the species that suffered the greatest damage among them, we will single out the species Lycaena helle, which lost almost half of its small population in the fires on Stara Planina Mt. in 2019. For this reason, by estimating the size and connectivity (using combined method of MRR and transect counts) of the remaining populations of this species, we plan to assess its threat status and plan conservation measures in cooperation with the competent institutions that are needed. Furthermore, we plan to expand the study to another rarity of Serbia and the global DD species - Euphydryas maturna, which occurs in stable numbers in the National Park "Đerdap" - eastern Serbia, whose territory in 2021 burned over 100 ha. Another aim of this project will be the dissemination of science and education of young nature lovers through workshops and online quiz for butterfly recognition, created during the implementation of the first Rufford project. Finally, this project will combine the results of the project in the form of an original scientific paper, which will be presented at the upcoming national and international symposia.