Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust

Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust, generally known simply as Buglife, is a United Kingdom nature-conservation charity focused on the protection of invertebrates. Its remit covers the broad range of animals commonly described as bugs or invertebrates, including bees, beetles, spiders, worms, woodlice and other small animals that are essential to functioning ecosystems but are often overlooked in conservation policy and public discussion. The organisation was created to provide a dedicated voice for invertebrate conservation. The Invertebrate Conservation Trust was registered as a company in December 2000, and it employed its first staff member, Matt Shardlow, in February 2002. In April 2002 it adopted the name Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust, while Buglife became the name by which it was commonly known. Its stated conservation purpose is to prevent invertebrate extinctions and support sustainable populations in the United Kingdom and beyond. Buglife's work combines scientific research, habitat conservation, public advocacy and public engagement. It undertakes and promotes studies of invertebrate species and their distribution, supports habitat management intended to maintain or improve invertebrate biodiversity, and publicises the ecological importance of invertebrates. This approach treats species conservation and land management as closely connected: protecting a species often requires changes to the way brownfield sites, wetlands, grasslands, woodland, farmland and other habitats are planned and managed. A recurring feature of Buglife's campaigning has been its defence of habitats that may be undervalued because they are not conventionally viewed as pristine natural landscapes. Its campaign for Canvey Wick in Essex highlighted the exceptional invertebrate value of a brownfield site threatened by development. Buglife and local residents campaigned for several years to protect the site, which was reported to support at least 1,500 invertebrate species, including species on the United Kingdom's endangered-species list. Natural England designated Canvey Wick as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in February 2005, making it the first brownfield site protected specifically for its invertebrate interest according to the referenced account. The charity has also intervened in policy debates where broad approaches to vegetation control or pollution could harm invertebrates. In the early 2000s it challenged proposed measures concerning ragwort, a plant associated with around 30 bug species. Its advocacy contributed to changes in the draft legislation so that it no longer authorised wholesale eradication of ragwort, and Buglife later contributed to a ragwort code containing measures intended to be more compatible with wildlife. It also campaigned over cypermethrin use as a sheep dip; the product's sale was suspended in 2005 following the campaign and associated pressure. Buglife operates from its head office in Peterborough and has also maintained offices or activities in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the South West of England. Its public profile has included media and educational work, such as participation in BBC Radio 4's Saving Species programme in 2011. In 2015, it campaigned against a proposed building development that threatened Nothophantes horridus, the critically endangered Horrid ground-weaver spider. Buglife's identity therefore combines specialist conservation expertise with campaigning intended to influence planning, land management, environmental regulation and public attitudes toward invertebrates.

The organisation that became Buglife was established as the Invertebrate Conservation Trust, which was registered as a company in December 2000. Its creation provided a dedicated organisation for the conservation of invertebrates as a whole, rather than concentrating on only one group such as butterflies, bees or beetles. The organisation's scope includes the many invertebrate animals that underpin food webs, pollination, soil processes, decomposition and wider ecosystem functioning. In February 2002, the trust employed its first staff member, Matt Shardlow. Two months later, in April 2002, it registered a change of name to Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust. The shorter form, Buglife, subsequently became the organisation's usual public name. Its early development established the combination of research, habitat management, public communication and campaigning that has continued to define its work. In 2003, Buglife pursued two notable campaigns. One concerned Canvey Wick, a brownfield site on Canvey Island in Essex that was under threat from a proposed business-park development. Buglife and local residents argued that the site had exceptional invertebrate value, supporting at least 1,500 species, including at least 30 species listed as endangered in the United Kingdom. The campaign continued for three years and helped establish the principle that brownfield land can have major conservation importance even where it does not resemble traditional countryside. The second major campaign of that period concerned ragwort legislation. Ragwort is associated with a number of invertebrate species, including around 30 species identified in the referenced account as dependent on the plant. Buglife challenged a proposed Ragwort Bill that would have authorised eradication measures. Following the challenge, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs amended the draft so that it no longer authorised eradication of ragwort in the proposed form. Buglife later contributed to a Ragwort Code containing wildlife-sensitive measures. Buglife publicly launched in 2004 and continued to campaign for sites important to invertebrates. In Scotland it launched the Save Aucheninnes Moss campaign; the referenced account states that 31 percent of Members of the Scottish Parliament supported a motion calling for the site to be saved from destruction. During the same period, Buglife produced Managing Priority Habitats for Invertebrates, a CD-based guidance resource. The resource was highlighted in the House of Commons by the environment minister and was used by land managers seeking to improve the condition of habitats for invertebrate species. On 11 February 2005, Natural England designated Canvey Wick as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The referenced material describes this as the first brownfield site to receive protection specifically for its invertebrate interest. Also in 2005, the sale of cypermethrin for use as a sheep dip was suspended following a long-running Buglife campaign. Buglife additionally pressed for wording in the draft Clean Neighbourhoods Act intended to ensure that insects in the countryside would not be treated as a public nuisance through overly broad control measures. The organisation continued its public and policy work in subsequent years. In September 2011 it contributed to BBC Radio 4's Saving Species programme. In 2015 it campaigned successfully to stop a building development that threatened Nothophantes horridus, the critically endangered Horrid ground-weaver spider. Buglife's head office is in Peterborough, England, with additional offices or operations in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the South West of England. Its stated purpose remains the prevention of invertebrate extinctions and the maintenance of sustainable invertebrate populations in the United Kingdom and beyond.

• 2015

  Campaign protects the Horrid ground-weaver

  [1]Buglifeen.wikipedia.org

  Buglife successfully campaigned against a development threatening Nothophantes horridus, the critically endangered Horrid ground-weaver spider.

• 2011

  Contribution to Saving Species

  [1]Buglifeen.wikipedia.org

  Buglife contributed to BBC Radio 4's Saving Species programme in September.

• 2005

  Canvey Wick receives SSSI designation

  [1]Buglifeen.wikipedia.org

  Natural England designated Canvey Wick as a Site of Special Scientific Interest on 11 February, recognising its exceptional invertebrate value.

• 2004

  Public launch and habitat-management guidance

  [1]Buglifeen.wikipedia.org

  Buglife marked its official public launch, began the Save Aucheninnes Moss campaign and released Managing Priority Habitats for Invertebrates.

• 2003

  Canvey Wick and ragwort campaigns begin

  [1]Buglifeen.wikipedia.org

  Buglife campaigned to protect Canvey Wick from development and challenged proposed ragwort eradication legislation.

• 2002

  First staff member employed

  [1]Buglifeen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation employed its first staff member, Matt Shardlow, in February.

• 2002

  Adoption of the Buglife name

  [1]Buglifeen.wikipedia.org

  In April, the organisation registered a name change to Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust.

• 2000

  The Invertebrate Conservation Trust is registered

  [1]Buglifeen.wikipedia.org

  The Invertebrate Conservation Trust was registered as a company in December, establishing a dedicated organisation for broad invertebrate conservation.

A specialist United Kingdom conservation charity representing the interests of invertebrates across species, habitats and environmental policy, with an emphasis on scientific evidence, habitat protection, public education and campaigning.

• Conservation guidance · 2004

  Managing Priority Habitats for Invertebrates

  A guidance resource produced by Buglife to help land managers maintain and improve habitats important to invertebrate biodiversity. Released in 2004 in CD format, it was presented as a practical reference for habitat management and was highlighted in the House of Commons by the environment minister.

• Environmental guidance

  Ragwort Code

  A code developed in the context of Buglife's campaign concerning ragwort management. It incorporated measures intended to recognise the plant's importance to associated invertebrates while addressing concerns about its control.

• 2015Horrid ground-weaver development campaign

  United Kingdom

  Buglife opposed a building development that threatened Nothophantes horridus, a critically endangered spider.

  Outcome. The development was stopped according to the referenced account.

  Source
• 2005Cypermethrin sheep-dip campaign

  United Kingdom

  Buglife campaigned over the environmental effects of cypermethrin used as a sheep dip and pressed for action to reduce risks to aquatic and other invertebrate life.

  Outcome. The sale of cypermethrin for use as a sheep dip was suspended following the campaign and related pressure.

  Source
• 2004Save Aucheninnes Moss

  United Kingdom

  Buglife launched a Scottish campaign to protect Aucheninnes Moss from destruction and sought political support for its conservation.

  Outcome. The referenced account states that 31 percent of Members of the Scottish Parliament signed a motion calling for the site to be saved.

  Source
• 2003Save Canvey Wick

  United Kingdom

  Buglife and Canvey Island residents ran a multi-year campaign to prevent a proposed business-park development from destroying Canvey Wick, a brownfield site supporting at least 1,500 invertebrate species.

  Outcome. Natural England designated Canvey Wick as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 2005.

  Source
• 2003Ragwort campaign

  United Kingdom

  Buglife challenged the proposed Ragwort Bill because broad eradication provisions could damage species associated with ragwort, including around 30 bug species identified in the referenced material.

  Outcome. Defra amended the draft Bill so that it no longer authorised ragwort eradication in the proposed form; a wildlife-sensitive Ragwort Code was subsequently produced.

  Source

• 2004

  Launches habitat-management guidanceProduct launch

  Background

  Land managers needed practical information on maintaining habitats for invertebrate biodiversity.

  Action taken

  Buglife released Managing Priority Habitats for Invertebrates as a CD-based guidance resource.

  Aftermath

  The resource was highlighted in the House of Commons and used by land managers to improve habitat management.

  Source

• 2002

  Adopts a dedicated all-invertebrate conservation identityStrategy

  Background

  The organisation was created to represent and conserve invertebrates across taxonomic groups rather than focusing on a single type of insect or other invertebrate.

  Action taken

  It changed its registered name to Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust and developed a public identity centred on broad invertebrate conservation.

  Aftermath

  Buglife became the organisation's commonly used name and continued combining research, habitat management, public education and campaigning.

  Source

1. 1Buglifeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Buglife official websitebuglife.org.uk