The Future of Butterfly Monitoring: A Scientist's Mission to Transform Conservation in Nigeria

In September 2024, at the end of his visit to UKCEH, we interviewed Joseph Izang Ibrahim, a PhD student at the University of Glasgow. Joseph is developing a butterfly monitoring protocol suited to Nigeria’s tropical savanna—laying the groundwork for the country’s first national butterfly monitoring scheme. 

Butterflies are vital bioindicators, offering clues about climate change and habitat degradation. In the UK, long-term studies have tracked species shifts linked to rising temperatures. Africa, however, lacks comparable data, making Joseph’s research crucial. His work addresses challenges unique to tropical savannas, where diverse landscapes and species may require alternatives to traditional transect-based monitoring, such as trapping methods. 

“Being a Visiting Scientist at UKCEH gave me a big platform to discuss my work and get valuable input,” Joseph said. His time at UKCEH helped him compare global monitoring protocols and explore the integration of citizen science into conservation efforts. 

One major achievement from his visit was bringing Nigeria into the Butterfly Count app, developed by UKCEH. Nigeria became the third African country to join. This citizen science tool enables users to record butterfly sightings, generating essential data to support national conservation efforts. 

Although butterfly conservation in Nigeria is just beginning, Joseph’s time at UKCEH provided new insights and connections. “At Glasgow, I’m one of the few working on butterflies. At UKCEH, I was surrounded by passionate ecologists,” he noted. 

His next steps include publishing his literature review in Conservation Letters and continuing collaboration with UKCEH to establish a long-term monitoring system in Nigeria. “This visit laid the foundation for future partnerships,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if I return.” 

Six months later, in April 2025, we caught up with Joseph. He had presented his work at the Entomological Society of Nigeria and organized a workshop for the Nigerian Butterfly Network to promote the monitoring app. His UKCEH host, David Roy, joined the workshop virtually to share his expertise. 

Joseph also presented his UKCEH work at the 2025 Student Conference on Conservation Science in Cambridge and has now finalized his literature review for publication in the Biological Reviews. 

Alongside desk-based research, undertaking fieldwork in Nigeria, Joseph advanced butterfly monitoring in his home country by growing a network of butterfly enthusiasts in Nigeria.  

Interested in butterfly research in Nigeria? Reach out to Joseph to learn more or get involved.

Start using the butterfly count app.