Butterfly spotting: NATURE'S HEALTH CHECK

Because they are such sensitive creatures, butterflies are like the proverbial canary in the coal mine for the environment. But urbanisation, and now climate change, have triggered their species and population decline here. Stephanie Adeline

- Stephanie Adeline Digital Graphics Journalist and Chin Hui Shan

Despite rapid urbanisation, our small island city-state of Singapore is still home to rich biodiversity, including more than 2,000 plant species and 360 butterfly species.

However, almost half of Singapore's native butterfly species have disappeared in the past 160 years, according to scientists' estimates in a 2020 study.

Deforestation and loss of plant species were major factors driving these local extinctions, especially for butterfly species that depend on forests.

The disappearance of butterflies can serve as an early warning sign for when all is not right in the environment.

This is because butterflies are extremely sensitive creatures, heavily reliant on specific features within their habitat, particularly their host plants.

Disruptions to their habitat can hinder their life cycle, with climate change making these impacts even more unpredictable.

Biodiversity loss and climate change are interconnected crises. Shifting weather patterns, such as erratic rainfall or hotter temperatures, can cause species to decline. The loss of natural ecosystems could also lead to more planet-warming carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere.

On Nov 1, the UN Biodiversity Conference COP16 ended with a decision that acknowledged the connection between climate, biodiversity and the ocean. Countries were urged to share their views to better align their climate and nature conservation policies.

Some 120 butterfly species are now considered nationally extinct, according to National Parks Board's (NParks) Red Data Book, meaning that they have disappeared from Singapore but still exist elsewhere.

Meanwhile, 69 species are categorised as threatened, while 56 are "near threatened", meaning they could soon be threatened.

Threatened species are sub-categorised as vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered in the Red Data Book.

WHAT DO BUTTERFLIES NEED TO THRIVE?