MacMan-Logo

MACulinea Butterflies of the Habitats Directive and European Red List as Indicators and Tools for Habitat Conservation and MANagement



An EU-funded project within the 5th Framework Programme 1998-2002

Thematic Programme: Environmental and Sustainable Development


Duration of funding: 1 February 2002 to 31 January 2006

The EU-funded project MACMAN "Maculinea Butterflies of the Habitats Directive and European Red List as Indicators and Tools for Habitat Conservation and Management" started in February 2002 with a runtime of 48 months. Maculinea butterflies are typical representatives of endangered European biodiversity. All species are listed by the IUCN as globally threatened, and for all species Europe is an important part of their distributions and thus the special responsibility of Europe.

The project has four main objectives:

  1. to increase knowledge in inter- and intra-specific variation in the functional ecology of Maculinea systems across Europe
  2. to assess the suitability of Maculinea butterflies as indicators of biodiversity along a European transect;
  3. to develop standards for monitoring Maculinea butterflies as indicators and tools for grasslands and their management
  4. to promulgate and exploit these monitoring standards.



Coordination:

Maculinea nausithous (Foto: Josef Settele)
Maculinea nausithous (Foto: Josef Settele)