Dutch gardens average 10 butterflies each as long-term decline persists

Participants in the Netherlands’ annual garden butterfly count spotted an average of 10 butterflies per garden this year. This marks a modest increase from recent years, but it is far below levels recorded when the survey began in 2009, according to the Vlinderstichting, the butterfly conservation organization.

The three-day count produced roughly 11,000 submissions. In the past several years the average had been nine butterflies per garden, project leader Kars Veling from the Vlinderstichting said. However, he cautioned against any celebration over the longer term: “still no reason to cheer."

The slight improvement this year is likely the result of favorable weather that kept plants in good condition, Veling said. The weather in the Netherlands has been hot this summer. The country has already seen a record three regional heatwaves.

When the garden butterfly count started in 2009, participants reported an average of 16 butterflies per garden. The sustained decline mirrors results from a broader national survey by CBS.

Veling attributed the drop to multiple pressures: nitrogen pollution, climate change, drying of landscapes, and the use of insecticides.