CONSERVATION
IUCN Redlist category Endangered (IUCN 2020)
Rationale for redlist categorization Atrophaneura luchti has been assessed as Endangered under criterion B1ab(iii). Based on the area of the Ijen mountain range in eastern Java, the extent of occurrence of this species is estimated as between 1,000 and 2,100 km2, but this can easily be an overestimate, given that few locality data exist for this species. There is a continuing decline in the area and extent of habitat for this species due to increasing human pressures which are seen across Java and have led to around 5% forest loss in the area where the species occurs. Given sulfur mining on Ijen, mining companies have in the past installed pipes to extract sulfur from the crater, and these are likely to impact the habitat of this species, which may lie within the access route for pipes. Habitat loss trends are likely to continue as human populations continue to put pressure on habitats. Current maps of deforestation show a number of pockets of impact across the area where the species occurs, suggesting likely more than ten locations if the species was present throughout the area. However, since the distribution of this species is unknown and there is a lack of locality data, ten locations may be an overestimate, especially taking into account that sulfur pipes from mining may cause additional habitat disturbance (this could also render the number of locations to one or fewer than five locations). Using precaution, we assess the species as Endangered with a best estimate of five locations, an extent of occurrence of maximum of 2,100 km2 and continuing decline in extent and quality of habitat due to deforestation and mining activities. In addition, the few locations and an increase in mining activity could likely have a major impact on this range-restricted species. Research is needed on the distribution and habitat requirements for this species to safeguard this range-restricted species for the future, and new insights may lead to an even higher threat category in the future. (IUCN 2020)
Threat category Species mortality,Ecosystem conversion (IUCN 2020)
Cause of stress Intentional use (species is the target),Housing & urban areas (IUCN 2020)
Described Threats Specific threats to this range-restricted species are still unknown, and more research in this area is recommended. However, it is likely that the species is threatened by the growing human population of Java, which leads to increasing deforestation for urbanisation. Because its habitat is unfavourable for humans and agriculture, it is unlikely to be severely affected by deforestation for these reasons, although this may become a relevant threat for the future as the human population continues to grow.
In addition, sulfur mining has been taking place at Ijen, with mining companies installing pipes to extract sulfur from the crater. These activities could lead to additional habitat loss for the species, as habitat may give way to access routes. Since 2001, around 5.2 % of the forest surrounding Ijen and neighbouring Mount Raung has disappeared, according to Global Forest Watch (Hansen et al. 2013), and this trend is unlikely to stop, suggesting a continuing decline in habitat for this species.
This species may also be affected by trade, however more research needs to be done to assess whether or not this has an impact on the species. (IUCN 2020)
Commercial use Specimens of this species can be found for sale online, for example on 'AUREUS butterflies and insects' for €29 and on eBay for around $35 (October 2018). (IUCN 2020)
Kind of conservation needed Site/area protection (IUCN 2020)
Applied conservation actions In a previous status assessment of the world's swallowtails, this species was considered to be Rare (Collins and Morris 1985), and subsequently Vulnerable in 1996 (Gimenez Dixon 1996). Following the status assessment in 1985, the subsequent action plan specifically called for an implementation of a National Action Plan for swallowtails of Indonesia in order to better integrate these species into national biodiversity and conservation planning (New and Collins 1991).
There are currently twelve National Parks on Java however, because of the currently known restricted distribution of this species, very few of these cover areas that may also be occupied by this species. In 1985, Collins and Morris reported that there were six protected areas in the Ijen mountains and that the future aim was to combine all six into one large National Park. Kawah Ijen, a protected area of only around 25 km2, can currently be found in the area and may contain the species (WDPA 2016). Establishment of additional protected land may be required to safeguard this restricted species. More research into the population status and distribution of this species is necessary. (IUCN 2020)
REFERENCES
- Collins, N.M. and Morris, M.G. 1985. Threatened Swallowtail Butterflies of the World. The IUCN Red Data Book. IUCN, Gland and Cambridge.
- Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1996: e.T2377A9435834.
- Hansen, M.C., Potapov, P.V., Moore, R., Hancher, M., Turubanova, S.A., Tyukavina, A., Thau, D., Stehman, S.V., Goetz, S.J., Loveland, T.R., Kommareddy, A,. Egorov, A., Chini, L., Justice, C.O. and Townshend, J.R.G. 2013. High-resolution global maps of 21st-century forest cover change. Science 342: 850-853.
- IUCN. 2020. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2020-3. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 10 December 2020).
- New, T.R. and Collins, N.M. 1991. Swallowtail butterflies: an action plan for their conservation. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources/Species Survival Commission Lepidoptera Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland.
- WDPA. 2016. Database on Protected Areas. A database online managed by UNEP-WCMC/IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA). Available at: http://www.unep-wcmc.org/wdpa/index.htm.