scarce vs local

[Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX]

My take on this issue of scarce vs local butterflies is that it is a real
and fundamentally important distinction when discussing degrees of
endangerment or non-endangerment of butterflies.  Scale is especially
important when reflecting on local vs widespread.  for example a species may
occupy a substantial absolute area of several hundred square
miles/kilometres with very healthy populations that are not under any kind
of threat.  But if you 'assess' this species within the context of a large
country that occupies millions of square miles/kilometres then it would be
deemed to be 'local' and hence some people may be deceived into
automatically thinking that it is a subject of conservation concern. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Norbert Kondla  P.Biol., RPBio.
Forest Ecosystem Specialist, Ministry of Environment
845 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar, British Columbia V1N 1H3
Phone 250-365-8610
Mailto:Norbert.Kondla at gems3.gov.bc.ca       
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca