Dragonfly and Damselfly Habitat Conservation

Dragonflies and damselflies are sensitive indicators of freshwater habitat quality, and their conservation requires protection of clean ponds and waterways.

Key Facts

The UK supports 57 species of dragonfly and damselfly, several of which are endangered
Dragonfly larvae spend 1-5 years in freshwater before emerging as adults
Water pollution, habitat loss, and drought are the primary threats to dragonfly populations
Creating and maintaining garden ponds provides valuable habitat for several dragonfly species

Welfare Considerations

The welfare status of dragonflies under ethical consideration relates to their nociceptive capacity, which is less well characterized than in vertebrate species. As invertebrates, they fall outside most legal welfare protections. However, their conservation is important both ecologically — as indicators of water quality and as predators of other invertebrates — and as part of broader efforts to maintain biodiversity that underpins healthy ecosystems supporting many vertebrate species whose welfare is better understood. Habitat restoration for dragonflies benefits the entire freshwater ecosystem community.

What You Can Do

Create a garden pond without fish to provide dragonfly breeding habitat
Maintain or advocate for protection of existing freshwater habitats including ponds, ditches, and slow rivers
Support water quality improvement efforts that reduce pollution entering freshwater habitats
Participate in dragonfly and damselfly surveys to contribute monitoring data