Coinciding with Butterfly Month observed from September 5 to October 4, Haryana’s 1st Butterfly Survey in Khol Block, District Rewari will be conducted by Forest and Wildlife Department, Haryana on September 27.

An official spokesperson said that butterflies are very sensitive to habitat disturbance and pollution and their conservation is very important. He added that It is in the above background that the butterfly (including moths) survey, the first survey of its kind in Haryana will be done, in which the butterfly diversity will be assessed in the Aravalli Region of Haryana. The survey will be conducted in Khol unit of Khol Block of district Rewari comprising of 10 villages having continuous stretch of hillocks namely- Palra, Ahhrod, Bassduda, Khol, Manethi, Bhalki, Majra, Nandha, Balwari and Khaleta, which is about 1000 hectares area. He said that the outcome of the survey will help in chalking out management strategy for the conservation of butterflies and moths. This will also form the basis for observing the impact of habitat disturbance and climate change on the ecology of the region, he added.

The spokesperson said to record and make inventories of the species of butterflies and moths in Aravallis of Haryana, 1st Butterfly Survey will be undertaken by Forest and Wildlife Department Haryana along with nature lovers, voluntary agencies and volunteers  under the guidance of butterfly experts. The main activities to be done during the Butterfly Survey Day include registration of volunteer butterfly experts/lovers at Rewari District Headquarter by Forest and Wildlife Department. Distribution of Caps to the participants with Haryana’s 1st Butterfly Survey.10 Teams equipped with cameras, a butterfly expert, forest officials, group-D employee, recorder will be constituted. Wildlife officers, officials and territorial staff will participate in this exercise, he added.

PCCF and Chief Wildlife Warden, Haryana will address the teams at the assembly point.  The species wise butterfly count data collected by the teams will be consolidated by the coordinator. A booklet of all butterfly species recorded with photographs and team members will also be published. The outcome of the survey will form the basis for planning the future management strategy in Aravalli region, he said.