Biodiversity News

Our medicine, cosmetics and other everyday products contain compounds taken from nature. But Traditional Owners may not have given permission for the materials or their knowledge to be used. David Jefferson, Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Daniel Robinson, Associate Professor, UNSW David Claudie, Invited User, Indigenous knowledge Jocelyn Bosse, PhD candidate in Law, The University of Queensland Margaret Raven, Senior Scientia Lecturer (Research), UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Wildlife populations have plummeted by 68% since 1970. But we have a plan to turn things around. Michael Obersteiner, Director, Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford David Leclère, Researcher in Ecosystem Services and Management (ESM) Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) Piero Visconti, Research Scholar, Ecosystem Services and Management Programme, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new plan targets areas around the world that can store carbon and protect large numbers of species. It calls for preserving these lands, working with Indigenous peoples and connecting wild areas. Greg Asner, Director, Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science and Professor, Arizona State University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

With targeted conservation action, we might just save many of these species before it's too late. Hayley Geyle, Research Assistant, Charles Darwin University David Chapple, Associate Professor in Evolutionary and Conservation Ecology, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Shifting baseline syndrome affects everyone. It's blinding us to the long-term deterioration of wildlife and ecosystems. Lizzie Jones, PhD Candidate in Zoology, Royal Holloway Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Zoos are struggling more than most businesses. Matyas Liptovszky, Honorary Assistant Professor of Zoo Animal Medicine, University of Nottingham Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The €24 billion spent supporting farm incomes in richer regions could more than cover the EU's Biodiversity Strategy. Murray Scown, Postdoctoral Researcher in Environment and Sustainability, Utrecht University Kimberly Nicholas, Associate Professor of Sustainability Science, Lund University Mark Brady, Associate Professor in Agricultural and Environmental Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

After the oil spill, the usual sight of families strolling by the sea was quickly replaced by volunteers working hard in a concerted effort to protect their coast. Ozayr Patel, Digital Editor Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Scientists find inequality between humans also harms the birds, the bees, the microbes and the trees. Jake M. Robinson, PhD Researcher, Department of Landscape, University of Sheffield Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Recent reports of dramatic declines in insect populations have sparked concern about an 'insect apocalypse.' But a new analysis of data from sites across North America suggests the case isn't proven. Matthew D. Moran, Professor of Biology, Hendrix College Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Fish need to cross roads too. But the tunnels built to channel rivers under roads and railways can block their migrations. Stephanie Januchowski-Hartley, Sêr Cymru Research Fellow in Freshwater Ecology, Swansea University Cecilia Gontijo Leal, Postdoctoral Researcher in Applied Ecology, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Belém Sayali Pawar, Research Fellow in GIS and Environmental Change, Swansea University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Rich and diverse microbiomes in our local environment are important for keeping us healthy. Jake M. Robinson, PhD Researcher, Department of Landscape, University of Sheffield Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

From a Hugh Jackman-esque spider to honouring traditional Indigenous words, these species have memorable names. Anthea Batsakis, Deputy Editor: Environment + Energy, The Conversation Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Pandas have done more to raise awareness of biodiversity loss than any other species. But they may not be good at stopping it themselves. Jason Gilchrist, Ecologist, Edinburgh Napier University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Framing cats as responsible for declines in biodiversity is based on faulty scientific logic and fails to account for the real culprit – human activity. William S. Lynn, Research Scientist, Clark University Arian Wallach, Lecturer, Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney Francisco J. Santiago-Ávila, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Wisconsin-Madison Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

To reverse the current climate and ecological crises, governments must put an end to the damaging forms of technology, innovation, investments and incentives that contribute to it. Kai Chan, Professor in Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The extraordinary story of a stingray, its discovery and its uncertain fate in the Yemen war. Alec Moore, Post-Doctoral Fisheries Scientist, Bangor University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Protecting the continent’s remaining pristine wilderness areas is urgent, but achievable. Rachel Leihy, PhD candidate, Monash University Steven Chown, Professor of Biological Sciences, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Kaputar rock skink is thought to have have one of the smallest ranges of any reptile in New South Wales – at the summit of a single extinct volcano, Mount Kaputar. Jodi Rowley, Curator, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology, Australian Museum Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The steep decline in biodiversity is worrying, especially as wild species are important for pollination and pest control. Lenore Fahrig, Chancellor's Professor of Biology, Carleton University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.