My Journey with the Big Butterfly Count Nepal 2024: Reflections and Future Hopes.

As I sit down to reflect on the Big Butterfly Count Nepal 2024, I feel gratitude, excitement, and a sense of achievement. This event has been a labor of love that I, along with the support of Butterfly Watchers Nepal and the Nature Conservation and Study Centre, have poured our hearts into. It's incredible to see how far we've come in making butterfly conservation not just a scientific endeavor but a movement that engages and inspires people across Nepal. 

A Celebration of Wings and Wonder

Paris Peacock

I've always been captivated by butterflies. These small, delicate animals remind us of the beauty and frailty of life as they flutter through woodlands and meadows. There is something special about them. Our goal for the Big Butterfly Count Nepal 2024 was to encourage people to take action for conservation, foster a greater appreciation for butterflies, and foster connections between people and nature.

I was astonished by the turnout. In seven distinct districts, we conducted nature excursions with 120 participants and observed 95 species of butterflies belonging to six families. Seeing people together for this common love of nature—from young children to seasoned butterfly enthusiasts—was amazing.

Observing the excitement on the faces of first-time participants was one of the most satisfying parts of the experience. Witnessing someone discover the wonder of butterflies for the first time fills me with a unique thrill and serves as a constant reminder of why I work in this field.

Learning and challenges Along the way

Butterfly expert Mahendra Singh Limbu with participants

It was also a fantastic learning opportunity. Organizing an event across several districts is not an easy task. One reason is that it was challenging to gather data in remote areas; as a result, we concluded that future initiatives should concentrate more on interacting with the local communities there. Ensuring data accuracy posed another problem; we intend to improve our training sessions for the following year because it can be difficult, particularly for novices, to correctly identify butterfly species.

I learned from this experience that conservation affects people just as much as it does animals. Our ability to educate and involve more individuals will increase our effect. I'm an enthusiastic supporter of citizen science, and I think this is a great way to close the communication gap between the general public and environmentalists.

Looking Ahead: What's Next?

Upon considering the accomplishment of this event, I find myself filled with enthusiasm for the times ahead. This is the start of something more than a one-time project. We want to grow the Big Butterfly Count Nepal next year by including more districts, local communities, and schools, particularly in the more isolated areas.

Establishing year-round butterfly monitoring programs that will enable us to monitor population dynamics over time is one of our future objectives. This kind of long-term data collection is essential since many species are threatened by habitat loss and climate change. To raise awareness and engage more people, we also aim to produce additional instructional content, such as podcasts, workshops, and videos.

"Conservation isn't just about saving species - it is about creating a world where  people and nature can thrive together."

Lush green vegetation of Godavari: A perfect butterflies heaven

A Thank you from the Heart

Common Siren

I must express my gratitude to everyone who helped make this reflection possible before I close. I sincerely appreciate everything, from our partners to the amazing volunteers and participants. I am motivated to continue pushing forward in our efforts to conserve butterflies and save Nepal's biodiversity by your passion and dedication.

The Big Butterfly Count Nepal 2024 served as a reminder of what is possible when people join together for a cause greater than oneself, therefore to me it was much more than just an event. It was an occasion that honored the natural world, community, and optimism for the future. I'm excited to travel this path with every one of you by my side.

Here's to more butterflies, more nature hikes, and more memories to come!