LIFE and invertebrate conservation

May 2012 - 56 pages

Invertebrates are a very diverse group of species that extend over all environments, ranging from mountains to seas. They provide valuable ecosystems services, from pollination to the control of agricultural pests and also act as important environmental indicators (for instance of water quality in rivers, a function of freshwater pearl mussels). Yet, despite their importance and prevalence, there is a lack of knowledge about many invertebrates, resulting in a lack of care and conservation.
Furthermore, the sheer number of threatened invertebrate species in Europe alone makes it difficult to target them through direct conservation action. As a result, the LIFE programme has tended to focus its funding on strengthening habitat security and conservation in order to support biodiversity richness and ecosystems health. This new LIFE Focus publication offers key practical examples of this approach – ranging from projects that manage agricultural land in a way that is favourable for rare butterfly species; to projects ensuring that ancient forests contain appropriate quantities of decaying wood and associated debris for saproxylic beetles. The publication also features examples from across the EU of how LIFE restoration actions have benefitted other groups of invertebrates, such as bees, dragonflies, snails and various freshwater and marine species.