Regular monitoring is key to understanding how the endangered Parnassius apollo loferensis responds to habitat restoration efforts. In Lofer, the EU-LIFE Apollo2020 team carried
Read MoreOn 26 April 2025, a dedicated volunteer team carried out a targeted shrub-clearing operation in the Stoissengraben valley near Saalfelden—a key stepping-stone habitat within
Read MoreAt the Karteis site in the Salzburg region (Pongau), a confirmed habitat of Parnassius apollo juvavus, the Apollo2020team carried out habitat observation and enhancement
Read MoreIn July 2025, a full-day debushing action took place at a key Apollo butterfly site near Virgen in East Tyrol, carried out under
Read MoreIn Leisach, the team planted 60 Sedum plants and recorded over 150 wild Sedum album individuals within a 100 Ă—
Read MoreAs a natural extension of the Virgen valley, Hinterbichl plays a crucial role in the ecological connectivity of Parnassius apollo glocnericus habitats. Located less than
Read More🦋 Apollo2020 is on the move!
We’ve kicked off a new phase of fieldwork with visits to four key Apollo butterfly habitats: Hinterbichl, Virgen, and Leisach in East Tyrol, plus Karteis in Salzburg (Pongau). These stunning alpine sites are crucial stepping stones for Parnassius apollo glocnericus and P. apollo juvavus.
Together with butterfly expert Otto Feldner and project lead Max Rossberg, we used drone-based imaging to map terrain and identify microhabitats that will guide our summer restoration work. 💡🌱
Each location is part of a growing cross-border habitat network that supports the long-term survival of Apollo butterflies in the Alps. 🏔️💚
📍 Stay tuned for detailed updates from the field—and follow us as we help restore one of Europe’s most iconic alpine species!
#Apollo2020 #ParnassiusApollo #ButterflyConservation #AlpineNature #EastTyrol #Salzburg #HabitatRestoration #NatureNetwork
Read MoreAs part of the landscape-scale conservation strategy under EU-LIFE Apollo2020, the project team carried out detailed site mapping and planning in Virgen
Read More🦋 Habitat Restoration for Apollo Butterflies in Lofer!
In spring 2025, a major habitat restoration effort took place on the dry steppe slope below Lärchberg near Lofer—part of the EU-LIFE project Apollo2020.
🌿 Over the years, the slope had become overgrown with shrubs and young trees (mainly spruce, hazel, and maple), blocking sunlight and crowding out the white stonecrop (Sedum album)—the only larval food plant of the Apollo butterfly.
👉 Between March 6 and April 23, 15 action days were dedicated to clearing around 30 hectares of land. The goal: reopen the slope to sunlight, restore dry grassland vegetation, and improve conditions for the rare subspecies Parnassius apollo loferensis.
💎 This site is one of the last strongholds of this genetically distinct alpine butterfly—found nowhere else in the world!
🔧 The campaign was led by Otto Feldner (European Wilderness Society), supported by the local Lärchberg-Lofer agricultural community, dedicated volunteers, and regional conservation experts from the Salzburg state government.
🌞 A strong example of how local cooperation and early action can help protect one of the Alps’ most iconic butterfly species!
#Apollo2020 #ParnassiusApollo #Loferensis #Lärchberg #ButterflyConservation #HabitatRestoration #EUlife #AlpineNature #NatureConservation
Read MoreConservation efforts are evolving with new and innovative approaches. One of our most exciting tools is the Naturschutzhunde, or “conservation dogs”. These specially
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