Government policy has bucked a long-term decline in the populations of rare butterfly species, research launched by environment minister Elliot Morley has revealed.

Successful initiatives include the Countryside Stewardship scheme and the designation of Environmentally Sensitive Areas, launched in 1998.

"This is exciting first evidence that DEFRA's agri-environment schemes are starting to halt the decline in some important butterfly species," said Morley.

"The Chalkhill Blue, and Dark Green Fritillary and some threatened species such as the Silver-spotted Skipper appear to be benefitting, which is encouraging news.

"I want to thank Butterfly Conservation and their volunteers for all their hard work gathering this data. We will be keeping a close eye on the situation and the progress made."

The research, conducted over three years by Butterfly Conservation, has found that the policy has turned round the decline in rare butterflies.

DEFRA claims that countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas schemes are helping to slow, and in some cases reverse, the long term decline in numbers of England's rarer butterfly species.

Butterflies affected by the change include the Chalkhill Blue, the Silver-spotted Skipper and the Dark Green Fritillary.

The study is part of a wider-ranging review of the government's agri-environmental policies.

"The results demonstrate that Government investment in countryside enhancement is beginning to pay off and reverse long term declines in wildlife," said Dr Martin Warren, director of Butterfly Conservation.

"Agri-environment schemes have proved very popular with many farmers and we are urging Government to increase the budget for them as recommended by the recent Curry report on the future of food and farming".