Web site to Stimulate entomological research in West Africa

The butterfly and moth fauna of West Africa is not well studied, the available information is scattered and poorly accessible and distribution maps are not up to date. This makes conservation planning and research on these groups difficult. Goal of this project is to make all existing information accessible in order to simulate research and conservation of butterflies and moths in West Africa. The project includes building a website where information on biology, ecology, distribution and pictures of species will be presented. Already existing database (GBIF) is mainly based on information from museum collections, which is often outdated (in terms of changing distribution related to habitat loss). The current website will include also recent observations made by African and European entomologists, which will be reviewed by experts. The website will be kept up to date and new observations will be placed (after review). The project is a collaborative effort of Dutch entomologists and the Ghanese NGO BCG (Butterfly Conservation Ghana). The initiative came from two Dutch entomologists that were than linked to BCG through EGP. BCG will use the site to stimulate research on butterflies and moths among university students in Ghana. Also, Educational material (leaflets) will be printed in the Netherlands and will be used by BCG for education activities on butterflies in schools in Ghana.