Final Report October 2011 for the BBI-Matra/2008/015 ... - Vlindernet

2.2. The lists analysis circulated for comment to national and international
experts.
An examination of international journals had revealed that publication of a red list per se
(activity 2.4) would not be possible in the way required by the project. Therefore, in order
to achieve the desired objectives, this activity (2.2) was considerably expanded in order to
produce a comprehensive and authoritative Red Book within the project and its budget.
So, following a Red List Workshop (see activity 2.3 below), detailed assessments for the
threatened species, a full explanation of the methodology and introductory chapters by
guest authors were researched and written. In February 2011 the Red Book was published
electronically in Turkish and English, and 2000 copies of the Turkish version were printed.
The Red Book was launched at the EU Delegation in Ankara (see activity 5.3 for details).
Details on the work:
� Threat assessments of all 381 species in Turkey were carried out using the globally
accepted IUCN criteria (version 3.1, 2001), resulting in a provisional red list which was
circulated to the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks at the
Ministry of Environment and Forestry and to external experts.
� A mini workshop of experts was held in March 2010 at the 6th International Butterfly
Symposium (Reading, UK) to discuss a selected list of species where a change in the
percentage occupancy of the 10x10 km squares could potentially change the species’ red list
status.
� Full assessments of the 38 threatened species (Regionally Extinct, Critically
Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable and Near Threatened) and summary assessments of
the 58 Data Deficient species were researched and written based on extensive and close
consultation with relevant national and international experts.
� The international recognition of the value of Red Books was central to the decision to
produce a hardcopy of the Red Book in Turkish. This would give the list greater authority in
the eyes of the Turkish government and academics and an increased likelihood that the
information would be used. Additionally, publication in both Turkish and English was
considered to be the most effective way of communicating the significant amount of new
and authoritative information on status and taxonomy of butterflies in Turkey with a wide
range of international audiences. Thus, an editor and production coordinator was employed
for the final 6-8 weeks of the publication process, and 2000 copies of the Red Book were
printed.
� On 7 February 2011 the Red Book was launched in partnership with the Dutch
Embassy, EU and BCE at the EU Delegation in Ankara (see activity 5.3 for further details). In
addition to the species assessments, the book includes introductory chapters, a presentation
of the methodology and the revised checklist of Turkish butterflies.
Red Book editing: left to right Burcu Meltem Arık, Özge
Balkız, Hilary Welch and Evrim Karaçetin
False chalk-hill blue (Polyommatus corydonius) on the
Turkish field guide
DE VLINDERSTICHTING & BCE 2011 | Butterfly Conservation in Turkey – Final report 2011 26