Rare dragonfly introduced into remote area of Cumbria to reverse its decline

The rare white-faced darter dragonfly is making a comeback in Cumbria's South Solway Mosses national nature reserve as part of conservation efforts to save its declining population. The insect thrives in acidic habitats, which are being restored through peatland revitalization and the creation of mossy breeding pools. However, challenges such as habitat destruction from drainage and agriculture, alongside warmer and drier summers due to climate change, threaten the dragonfly's recovery. Experts hope reintroduction will stabilize the population within five years, with early translocations already underway in 2025, supported by the British Dragonfly Society.