During this century butterfly diversity has decreased alarmingly in some parts of the world, pointing to the need for better environmental management and public education. The greatest threat to the world's butterfly species is the ongoing loss of suitable habitat. This loss is due primarily to human activities, including agriculture, logging, urban expansion, industry, recreation, and pollution.
Some human actions take a direct toll on butterfly populations.
Some herbicides harm butterflies' food plants. Ultimately, global climate change will alter the distribution of plants and affect butterflies in ways that we do not yet understand. We need to change our uses of land and conserve or restore butterfly habitats. And we need to increase public awareness and education about butterflies, through exhibitions like this one. In regions where tropical forests have been destroyed by logging, agriculture, and development, butterfly farms offer a way for people to make a living by using the forest instead of cutting it down.