Butterfly Conservation Europe: Aims and operating principles

The association aims to prevent the extinction of any species of butterfly and moth, especially in Europe, and promote all activities and initiatives to conserve butterflies, moths and their habitats in Europe. A major focus will be to help implement the Convention of Biological Diversity with respect to butterflies, moths and their habitats, and contribute to the EU target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010. We regard butterflies as a vital part of this.

Why butterflies and moths are important

More information on the importance of butterflies can be found in this document.

The operating principles of BCE are:

• Build on what already exists
• Encourage the formation of new organisations where no existing organisation is available
• Be task oriented with minimum bureaucracy
• Form a genuine and mutually supportive partnership
• Include a fair geographical representation
• Work together to promote butterfly and moth conservation, and the aims of BC Europe
• Collaborate and co-operate with others to ensure a holistic approach to nature conservation

Founding fathers (and mother) of BCE: Dirk Maes, Irma Wynhoff, Josef Settele, Martin Warren, Chris van Swaay and Theo Verstrael. Photo made on 16 november 2004, when BCE was officially founded.