The National Dragonfly Atlas Project will be launched in April 2008. The aim of this project is to update the known distribution of British dragonfly and damselfly species over the next 5 years, culminating in the publication of a new national atlas in 2013.

A new national atlas is urgently required. Climate change is contributing to increasingly earlier spring emergence and change in the range of a number of our species. In addition, new species are becoming established in Britain. We are living through a dynamic change in our dragonfly fauna and need to record this information, thereby providing evidence for future assessment of the impact climate change and other environmental factors are having on our dragonfly fauna. To succeed in this ambitious project good national coverage is needed. The more people that get involved, the more information on the status of our dragonfly and damselfly species can be gathered. This will not only allow the production of a high quality national atlas but also provide a good baseline of information that can be used for the future benefit of dragonfly conservation.

Some the details have yet to be finalised but recording needs lots of keen people, so please get in touch with the relevant vice county recorder/s now, to volunteer your time and enthusiasm and they will then be able to keep you informed.

Stephen Coker, Mountain Grove, Clarbeston Road, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA63 4SG Tel: 01437 563 566. E–mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For more information please see: www.dragonflysoc.org.uk/nationalatlas.html