military base increases its survival because the frequent ecological disturbances created by troop movements allow meadow creation. Current conservation efforts Experts recommend downlisting the Saint Francis' satyr once two criteria are met: the metapopulation has stabilized or increased in number for at least 10 to 15 years and once there is a long-term plan to manage the species' survival. To do so, there are regulations and a recovery plan in place. Regulations The ESA prohibits the sale, import, export, and removal of the Saint Francis' satyr to limit collection pressures. There are also laws preventing federal agencies from taking part in activities that will harm the species in areas where they are vulnerable, including road construction, pesticide application, and beaver control. However at the time of its listing, there were no laws in place in North Carolina protecting these butterflies. Currently, laws have been passed to protect butterfly populations and their habitat, including regulations for federal agencies, prohibitions of certain practices, and recovery plans. Recovery plan The following recovery plan strives to improve conditions for Saint Francis' satyr survival so that it can be downlisted to threatened before being delisted completely. Experts view a stable metapopulation as 200 adult individuals per brood. Protect and manage existing populations and their habitat: This stage of the plan focuses on three key aspects. Monitoring existing populations: A monitoring system has been in place since 2002 and has estimated population sizes at sites found outside artillery impact areas. Protecting existing populations: Researchers keep colony locations confidential and restrict military traffic around colony sites. Managing for long-term species survival: Researchers develop continual disturbance plans to create meadow habitat. Plans will outline goals, strategies, timelines, and funding sources. However, long-term management plans are incomplete because there needs to be a better understanding of disturbance factors. Continued research: There is still much to learn about the life history of this butterfly, so research collaborations have been formed with North Carolina State University and other organizations such as the Department of Defense. These collaborations have yielded valuable information regarding population trends, species-habitat interactions, and dependence on disturbance. Search for additional populations: Researchers have found three new subpopulations, but they are all restricted to Fort Bragg. In addition, the locations of these sites are highly restricted, so it has been difficult to monitor the population's health. Establish more wild populations in historic range: This involves rearing butterflies in captivity