The overall conclusion is that many European butterflies are under serious threat, especially from rapidly changing land use and the intensification of agriculture and forestry. A major new initiative for conserving European butterflies is therefore needed. Coenonympha hero is a characteristic butterfly of wet, open forests. In Western and Central Europe this species has decreased sharply and is now even extinct in four countries. For this reason it is listed an Appendix II of the Bern Convention.
Main threats are changes in woodland management and land drainage.
At present strong populations are only in Russia and Baltic states. Drawing by Paul Schoenmakers, The Netherlands. Parnassius apollo was reported in 28 countries. In the higher mountains of Europe the butterfly is still widespread and mostly not threatened, but it has disappeared from many lowland localities. Drawing by Paul Schoenmakers, The Netherlands.