FOREST EDGES AND FOREST CULTIVATION

In order to thrive, the caterpilars of the Scarce Fritillary require specific features at forest edges. These features were a natural and common "by-product" of earlier extensive small-scale forest cultivation. With the entry of modern forestry practices, these biotopes have become rare.

In the course of the LIFE Project, it is foreseen that this important habitat of the Scarce Fritillary butterflies will be fostered or newly created.


Optimization of forest edges for the Scarce Fritillary

As an initial measure, a total of 3.5 km of forest edges suitable as habitats will be modified to meet the requirements of the Scarce Fritillary.


New habitats for the Scarce Fritillary through traditional forest cultivation

The Scarce Fritillary is a so-called "clearing-site hopper". The butterfly inhabits small damp forest clearings populated by ash rejuvenation and it moves, as the young forest grows, to the next clearing.

Together with the help of property owners, new clearing sites will be created (so-called partial cuts, using natural regeneration to encourage new seedlings). By means of frequent and staggered used, a well-structured and dynamic forest mosaic ("dynamic system of small clearings") will be created in order to assure this rare butterfly can survive in the future.


The creation of interconnected habitats

Contact between existing individual butterflies is mandatory for the long-term survival of the insect in new habitats. In order to foster their propagation into new territory, existing habitat corridors such as along forest paths or structure-rich forest canopies, shall be constructed or optimized as necessary.