The community of the butterflies of the Sierra de Huétor Natural Parkin Granada, is one of the most diverse in the region, with 109 species recorded that represent more than 70% of those cited in all of Andalusia and almost 50% of those present in Spain, although the impact of climate change is already visible in the specimens of this enclave, of incalculable ecological value located in the Sierras Béticas, and which has established itself as a crucial refuge for biodiversity in Andalusia.
Covering an area of 12,128 hectares, this protected area is home to a amazing butterfly community which stands out both for its diversity and its relevance in monitoring climate change and preserving ecosystems. It is one of the main bastions of lepidoptera conservation in the south of the Iberian Peninsula.
The park, characterized by its environmental heterogeneity, offers a variety of habitats ranging from mid-mountain scrubland to pine forests and clearings, creating an ecological mosaic ideal for the proliferation of butterflies. It is precisely this diversity of habitats that favors the coexistence of a wide range of speciessome of which are endemic, such as Aricia morronensis and others recently described as Melitaea pseudornata.
They play a crucial role as bioindicators. Their sensitivity to environmental changes makes them exceptional witnesses to the impact of climate change. Recent studies have shown that many species are changing their geographic distribution and life cycles in response to increasing temperatures and variable precipitation patterns.
In the Sierra de Huétor Butterflies migrate to higher altitudes and show an advance in their phenological cycles. These trends, observed in species such as Polyommatus celina And Melanargia lachesisare clear evidence of the need for adaptive conservation strategies that take into account these climate changes, as the Junta de Andalucía indicates in a press release.
The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Environment, through its Territorial Delegation in Granada, has implemented a series of actions aimed at preserve and restore habitats key for butterflies and other pollinating insects.
One of the fundamental pillars of this strategy is the maintenance of traditional uses of the territory, such as extensive breeding, which has historically contributed to the creation and maintenance of habitat mosaics that promote biodiversity. At the same time, significant efforts are being made in forest management naturalize repopulated pine forests and encourage the creation of clearings and the presence of dead wood, crucial elements for the development of greater biodiversity.
Another notable measure is the rehabilitation of water points, essential not only for wildlife associated with aquatic environments, but also to increase plant productivity, which directly benefits butterflies and other phytophagous insects.
A natural laboratory
The Sierra de Huétor Natural Park is becoming a natural laboratory where science and conservation go hand in hand. Monitoring butterfly populations has been integrated into European programmes such as the Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (BMS), which collects long-term data on butterfly population trends across Europe. This information is vital for the development of indicators which are used by the European Commission and other international organisations to assess the health of ecosystems.
In Spain, the BMS Spain program has established more than 210 active transects, many of them in natural parks such as the Sierra de Huétor. This monitoring effort has the participation of many volunteers, which, through the use of mobile applications and following a standardized methodology, contribute to the knowledge and conservation of these species.
An edited guide
The conservation of biodiversity in the Sierra de Huétor Natural Park also involves raising awareness and educating citizens. The Andalusian Government has promoted the creation of informative materialsuch as the “Guide to Butterflies of the Sierra de Huétor Natural Park”, which offers tools for the identification of species and, in addition, promotes the active participation of the population in the conservation of their environment.
The guide, prepared by lepidoptera experts such as José Miguel Barea, Francisco Javier Olivares and Cristina González, is presented as an essential tool to bring visitors and the local community closer to the natural wealth of the park. This initiative, together with other awareness campaigns on social networks and environmental education activities, reflect the commitment of the Government of Andalusia to the protection of its natural heritage.
“The Sierra de Huétor Natural Park, with its rich butterfly community, is a living example of the efforts that the Government of Andalusia is making to preserve biodiversity in its natural spaces. The combination of conservation measures sustainable management, scientific research and the involvement of society are essential to ensure that this natural paradise continues to be a refuge for biodiversity in the decades to come,” the ministry said in a statement.
For all these reasons, the Andalusian Government reiterates its commitment to the conservation of natural parks and calls on citizens to actively participate in the protection of these spaces. “The butterflies of the Sierra de Huétor remember that nature is fragile and that its preservation is everyone’s business,” he emphasizes.
