Habitat Improvement planned in Virgen: Preparing for Restoration in the Heart of Apollo Territory
As part of the landscape-scale conservation strategy under EU-LIFE Apollo2020, the project team carried out detailed site mapping and planning in Virgen (East Tyrol) in early July 2025. The area is home to a confirmed population of Parnassius apollo glocnericus and represents a key node within the regional habitat network.
During the visit, drone surveys and ground assessments revealed several patches where encroaching shrubs and dense vegetation are beginning to limit habitat quality. These areas were documented in detail and will serve as the basis for a targeted debushing operation, scheduled for a future intervention phase.
The goal is to restore sun-exposed, sparsely vegetated slopes that are critical for Sedum growth and Apollo butterfly development. By removing selected shrubs and small trees, the team aims to reopen microhabitats suitable for egg-laying, larval feeding, and adult basking.
“Virgen holds tremendous potential—not only as an active Apollo site, but as a future model for integrated slope restoration in alpine valleys.”
The restoration measures planned for Virgen are part of a broader strategy to ensure that P. apollo glocnericus has access to a well-connected, functional habitat network across East Tyrol. Monitoring and follow-up assessments will accompany the intervention to track vegetation recovery and butterfly activity in the seasons ahead.
