Researcher at butterfly foundation threatened over pesticide report

A researcher from the Butterfly Conservation Foundation was threatened at home after the foundation published a report on pesticides in nature reserves early this month. The foundation has taken the report offline and reported the threat to the police.

The pesticide report was published on August 4. It showed that 51 different pesticides against weeds, fungi, and insects were found in ten Natura 2000 nature reserves - reserves with the highest protection status in the Nehterlands. Among them were pesticides that have been banned for decades.

According to the Butterfly Conservation Foundation, “the publication of the results has led to many reactions from a wide variety of parties.” And that includes threatening a researcher at their home shortly after the publication. The foundation did not say what the threat entailed or where it came from.

The foundation said it “fully supports” its employee and stressed the importance of being able to publish scientific facts without hesitation or fear.