TAGIS – Centro de Conservação das Borboletas de Portugal

Founded in 2004 and based in Avis, Portugal, TAGIS – Centro de Conservação das Borboletas de Portugal is a non-profit association specialised in butterfly conservation biology and, increasingly, other insect orders. Named after Euchloe tagis, an endemic western Mediterranean butterfly, it was the first specialised research centre of its kind in the Iberian Peninsula. Its mission aligns with Portugal's National Strategy for Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, focusing on scientific research, species and habitat monitoring, support for the Natura 2000 network, and conservation management actions. Since 2005 TAGIS has held official status as an Environmental NGO, and since 2010 as a Private Entity of Public Utility. The association coordinates the national Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (BMS Portugal), part of the European Butterfly Monitoring Scheme network, and runs projects such as Rede EBio, Insetos em Ordem, Lagartagis and Borboletas Através do Tempo. Beyond scientific work, TAGIS is strongly committed to environmental education, public awareness and civic engagement, publishing books, guides, leaflets and educational games about butterflies and insects. Governed by a Board of Directors, Fiscal Council and General Assembly, TAGIS operates through a small technical team supporting its scientific and outreach programmes. The organisation actively promotes citizen science, inviting the public and volunteers to participate in butterfly censuses, and collaborates with other institutions such as BioDiversity4All and university research groups to expand knowledge of Portugal's insect biodiversity and support its long-term conservation.