In our study we investigated the biodiversity of the butterflies and orchids on 15 extensive grasslands in the region Bela krajina, Slovenia. Butterflies and orchids are used as biodiversity indicators because of their fast response to changes in agricultural practices. Their populations have declined drastically due to their sensitivity to the environmental changes. They are threatened due to intensive agriculture, forestation, climate changes, etc. Altogether we documented 70 species of butterflies, of which 11 were endangered and four were protected in Slovenia. Conservation value of each site based on presence of threatened species and total number of species of butterflies and orchids was calculated. We confirmed a weak positive correlation between butterfly species diversity and the length of the edge of the location and percentage of the forest edge. Adjusted management of extensive grasslands is crucial for butterfly and orchid diversity conservation including action plans, monitoring and better management of endangered species habitats.
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