5 myths about nature conservation
So that we wouldn’t have to go look at butterflies only in greenhouses
Did you know that the decline of insects is one of the most overlooked yet crucial conservation issues? Over the past 30 years, insect populations in Central Europe have decreased by up to 75%.
Myth 1: The more trees, the better.
A forest unlike a forest, a meadow unlike a meadow
To many, forests are the symbol of nature. And yes, bright forests with various tree species, grass, and herbs, or even orchards, have immense significance for the landscape. However, to preserve biodiversity, it is essential to protect forest-free areas such as meadows, steppes, wetlands, heathlands, or sand dunes. These places are home to vast amounts of insects and many other animals, including lizards, birds, hedgehogs, and even ground squirrels. Today, these areas are globally more endangered than tropical rainforests.
Myth 2: The best pollinator is the honeybee.
Diligent pollinators
Around 80% of all plant species, including many crops, depend on pollinators. Without them, a third of global agricultural production would be at risk. While the honeybee is beloved and important in agriculture, it’s actually less effective as a pollinator than many wild insects. Among pollinators, butterflies, bumblebees, and wasps play a key role. But the true champions are often the less-noticed hoverflies – which look like tiny wasps – and solitary bees. In the Czech Republic alone, there are about 400 species of hoverflies and over 500 species of solitary bees. These wild pollinators don’t produce honey, but they’re often more efficient and can survive where honeybees struggle. From a biodiversity standpoint, large-scale beekeeping can even be harmful. It may disrupt the natural balance between pollinators and the plants they depend on.
Myth 3: I plant a butterfly bush, and the butterflies will be happy.
Life-giving plants
Butterflies depend not only on flowers that provide nectar but also on the food plants for their caterpillars. Butterfly bush is not among them. Each species prefers different host plants – such as thyme, crown vetch, fennel, bird’s-foot trefoil, or nettle. These plants are essential for their development and can only be found in appropriately mowed or grazed meadows.
Myth 4: The English lawn is no good, so I don’t mow at all.
To cut, or not to cut, that is the question!
Without regular mowing, meadows gradually become overgrown with tall and spreading types of grass, and later, shrubs and trees. Low-growing plants disappear, along with butterflies and animals that feed on them. However, instead of a uniform English lawn, we should opt for a mosaic mowing strategy, meaning not cutting everything at once but gradually. For the maintenance of larger areas, grazing can be useful. For instance, sheep and goats effectively maintain meadows, as wild herbivores did in the past.
Myth 5: It’s best to let nature take care of itself.
How to manage natural areas
The present-day landscape would not be stable without human intervention. It becomes overgrown with shrubs and tall grass, fruit orchards deteriorate, and prehistoric wild animals that would naturally maintain the landscape are missing. Dark forests – or rather forest plantations with minimal diversity – prevail, and unsustainable agriculture exacerbates the problem. Sometimes, in order to maintain biodiversity, it’s necessary to use technology and heavy machinery. Additionally, nature requires seemingly destructive processes such as floods, avalanches, windstorms, or even fires to limit the spread of expansive plants. Carefully planned interventions are needed to restore a healthy functioning landscape.
Don’t miss anything
Do you want to know what’s happening where? Join more than 8,000 fans of the JARO Group and receive invitations to all interesting events, news from practical nature conservation, notifications of new articles, lectures and opportunities to get involved.