A new study using remote sensing and machine learning found that mining for green technology minerals has unexpected consequences on biodiversity. The research revealed that commodities such as lithium and cobalt have the highest biodiversity risks despite lower levels of forest loss.
A new study reveals human impacts have fundamentally reshaped biodiversity patterns on islands worldwide. Island endemic species account for 75% of recorded anthropogenic extinctions, while many have received introduced species that now outnumber native flora and fauna.
A new study identifies the ecological conditions necessary for biodiversity offsetting to achieve conservation goals. The research highlights the importance of large-scale restoration areas and protected landscapes in achieving long-term biodiversity outcomes. Successful compensation requires policies aligned with ecological reality, p...
Research finds biodiversity delivers largest gains under extreme drought in drier grasslands, with stronger effects from species complementarity. In contrast, forests show no comparable context dependence under extreme drought.
New review highlights remote sensing's role in monitoring global biodiversity, with satellites capturing forest structure and function. However, field data remains essential for species-level, evolutionary, and genetic dimensions of biodiversity.
A new study found that Europe's local plant communities have experienced an increase in overall species numbers over the past century. However, this growth is primarily driven by generalist and non-native species that outcompete native species for resources.
A new European alliance aims to build a continent-wide system using genomics for protecting biodiversity, combining DNA barcoding and genome sequencing. The initiative will enable efficient collaboration and interoperability in biodiversity research.
A global analysis of fish biodiversity in rivers reveals that warmer climates and larger catchment sizes are associated with increased biodiversity. However, human activity weakens this relationship, particularly in smaller river catchments. The study demonstrates the potential of environmental DNA as a tool for rapid, large-scale biod...
An interdisciplinary research team from the University of Minnesota analyzed 146 countries and found large potential gains in biodiversity, climate, and economic development from improved land use and management. The analysis showed that simultaneous gains in environment and economy are possible, with potential to increase climate miti...
A new study found that biodiversity offset grasslands support twice the number of wild bees compared to existing grasslands, with comparable numbers of hoverfly species. While not perfect replacements, these offsets can provide important resources for pollinators and may be as effective as existing sites in terms of species richness.
A new study suggests that expanding Norway's renewable energy could increase habitat loss by up to 28% by 2050. However, avoiding construction in species-rich habitats and using previously developed land can help curb those losses. Meanwhile, rooftop solar has a lower impact on biodiversity compared to ground-mounted solar plants.
Researchers used DNA metabarcoding to analyze benthic macroinvertebrates across 18 Ontario streams, detecting far greater biodiversity than traditional methods. The study found that DNA-based biomonitoring can reveal ecological patterns and changes linked to agriculture, water quality, and land use.
A new study suggests integrating indigenous and local management practices into scientific and political frameworks could improve biodiversity protection. The research identifies 343 reports of management practices targeting key cultural species, highlighting the importance of custodianship in biodiversity conservation.
A survey of Tokyo teachers found that key biodiversity topics were covered extensively, but omissions stood out. Personal experiences of nature significantly influenced what teachers chose to highlight.
The MAMBO project developed innovative technologies to monitor biodiversity, including autonomous insect traps, camera traps, sound recognition models, and image analysis tools. These tools enable standardized data collection across multiple species groups, transforming how biodiversity is assessed in Europe.
A new paper warns that halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030 is urgent to avoid destabilizing the Earth's vital systems. The authors call for a unified 'Nature Positive' approach to global environmental goals and governance.
Researchers warn that a securitized response to global biodiversity loss could lead to poorly targeted actions and policy. They highlight concerns over migration claims and call for evidence-based, non-securitised policy.
Researchers found an ecological conflict zone at mid elevations where human pressure overlaps with biodiversity hotspots, despite low protected area coverage. This convergence requires differentiated management strategies across elevation zones to safeguard mountain ecosystems.
A comprehensive phylogeny of China's vascular plants reveals a hidden global biodiversity hotspot in Central China. The region supports over 14,000 vascular plant species and at least 2,024 endemic plant species, meeting the criteria for global biodiversity hotspot designation.
The report, prepared by BioAgora, highlights the benefits of building-integrated greenery for biodiversity, climate resilience, energy efficiency, and human wellbeing. It offers actionable guidance for local authorities to integrate green roofs and walls into spatial planning and building codes.
A new study by the University of Stirling found that beaver-created wetlands had 19% more species than other types of wetland. The research team believes their findings could hint at the scale of past biodiversity loss associated with a lack of beaver-dependent wetlands.
The Alternet Summer School will bring together PhD candidates, researchers, and professionals to investigate the relationship between biodiversity and society. Participants will engage with socio-ecological systems thinking and explore pathways for transformative change in multifunctional landscapes.
A new science-based operational framework can help countries evaluate their progress towards the 30/10 biodiversity target. The framework reveals that only 2% of land and 2% of sea contribute to the target, while reported figures are often overestimated.
A partnership between Goethe University Frankfurt and Universidad de Costa Rica aims to deepen scientific understanding of Costa Rica's biodiversity, with a focus on conservation. The €450,000 funding will support joint research initiatives, including pilot projects on fungal diversity and the establishment of a culture collection.
A new study proposes a comprehensive roadmap for Europe's biodiversity monitoring system, which could become a global model. The system would track changes in species and ecosystems using 84 Essential Biodiversity Variables and integrate data from various sources, including DNA, digital technologies, and human expertise.
A new study shows that geotagged social media photos can improve biodiversity datasets by 35% and provide more accurate species distribution models. The enhanced models reveal range expansions in areas missed by traditional records, particularly in regions with sparse formal monitoring.
A new study highlights the importance of addressing multiple threats simultaneously to reverse biodiversity loss. Climate policies and amphibians are particularly affected by combined effects of habitat loss, exploitation, disease, invasive species, pollution, and climate change.
A new study highlights the importance of farmer-led collaboration in addressing biodiversity loss in agricultural landscapes. Farmer clusters, groups of farmers working together to support biodiversity-sensitive farming, show varying levels of maturity and collaboration, influenced by factors such as leadership quality and institutiona...
The Horizon Europe project B-Cubed is offering a training series to turn raw biodiversity records into policy-relevant indicators using emerging tools and workflows. The six live sessions will empower researchers, policymakers, and conservation practitioners with practical skills for biodiversity data analysis.
A new report by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) emphasizes the critical role of businesses in halting and reversing biodiversity loss. Businesses can either drive transformative change or risk extinction, as they rely on and impact nature. The report provides methods and 100+ actions for bu...
A new study reveals that current pesticide use trends fall short of the 50% reduction target by 2030, threatening global biodiversity. The research team analyzed global pesticide data and found significant increases in applied toxicity, driven by higher amounts applied and growing toxicity of active ingredients.
The BioMARatona Portugal citizen science initiative has achieved an unprecedented milestone with a notable increase in observations gathered and recorded species. Over 5,000 observations and 450 documented species have been accumulated since 2024, mapping diverse types of coastal species.
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) held its 12th plenary session in Manchester, UK, to agree on a landmark business and biodiversity report. The report provides evidence and options for action to measure and better manage business relationships with nature.
The IPBES Plenary Session will consider the landmark Business & Biodiversity Assessment Report, which assesses the impact of businesses on nature. The report aims to inform global policy and action on biodiversity and nature, highlighting its significance for economic prosperity, security, and quality of life.
The study reveals that up to 13% of areas allocated to land-based carbon removal could overlap with important biodiversity sites in ambitious emissions reduction scenarios. Effective implementation of reforestation and BECCS can reduce the long-term loss of biodiversity due to climate factors by up to 25%, producing net benefits.
A new global dataset quantifies biodiversity loss in international trade of staple crops, revealing a strong upward trend and key contributors. Soybean trade shows the most rapid increase, surpassing wheat, while major agricultural producers drive global biodiversity loss patterns.
A new study has found that living walls can significantly enhance urban biodiversity by attracting pollinators and other wildlife. The research revealed that soil-based living walls with plants in soil attracted more wildlife than those with artificial substrates, and specific plant species like ivy and honeysuckle were most effective.
A new study reveals that socio-environmental mobilizations play a critical role in global biodiversity conservation by resisting environmental degradation. These local struggles often overlap with global conservation priorities, highlighting the need for policy shifts to recognize and support these movements.
The 27th SBSTTA-27 meeting emphasized the crucial role of scientists and knowledge holders in the UN CBD process. A side event explored capacity-building initiatives, regional TSC centers, and the introduction of a new guide for supporting participation in UN CBD processes.
The EU-funded Trees4Adapt project aims to strengthen Europe's adaptation and resilience to climate change through tree-based solutions. By combining cutting-edge research with practical applications, the project will help policymakers make informed choices and inform EU policies.
A global report highlights fragmented data systems and lack of standardization hindering botanic gardens' contribution to biodiversity conservation and scientific research. Researchers call for a unified, equitable global data system to transform how living collections manage and share information.
A new AI method using aerial imagery can reliably identify aspen trees and standing dead trees, crucial indicators of forest biodiversity. The technique has been proven effective in all seasons and can be scaled up for monitoring forest environments.
A new study reveals that elusive species are most vulnerable to human-driven habitat change due to data gaps in global biodiversity databases. By leveraging open data and crowd-sourced observations, researchers can correct these gaps and provide more accurate biodiversity indicators.
A German-Swiss research team found that spatial data can remarkably predict biodiversity changes over time, identifying areas under pressure. The study used unique data from 150 meadows and shows that land use intensification leads to declining biodiversity.
A new analysis challenges traditional conservation strategies by highlighting the importance of sustainable pastoralism in protecting global biodiversity. Rangelands harbor vast biodiversity and support millions of people, yet only a small percentage receive formal protection.
A new study found that medieval European societies supported plant diversity around Lake Constance, driven by agricultural practices and land management. Researchers integrated fossil pollen data with historical records to reconstruct the region's 4000-year history of biodiversity change.
The EU-funded project SHOWCASE has released its final handbook on 'Farming with Biodiversity', providing a practical guide to help farmers integrate biodiversity into their operations. The handbook offers four flexible strategies to promote biodiversity-based farming, supporting EU and national policies such as CAP eco-schemes.
A new study reveals that grassland degradation increases soil microbial diversity while reducing plant richness, leading to a decline in ecosystem functioning and multifunctionality. The research highlights the critical importance of conserving soil microbial communities for sustainable restoration of degraded grasslands.
A new study reveals that modern agriculture is threatening biodiversity in European protected areas, but traditional low-intensity farming methods can help preserve habitats and species. The findings highlight the urgent need to strengthen agricultural regulations inside protected areas to achieve EU biodiversity conservation goals.
Researchers evaluate ways to redesign land use and nature conservation using integrated approaches to meet ecological, social, and economic goals. Multifunctional landscapes can promote biodiversity, food production, climate regulation, and human well-being.
A new study reveals that land-use change was the primary cause of biodiversity loss on Mount Kilimanjaro's lower slopes over the last century. Human activities such as population growth and economic development led to a decline in plant species diversity, with up to 75% lost per square kilometer.
Under climate change scenarios, backyard birders in South Africa can still appreciate diverse bird species, but declining biodiversity and climate change may reduce birding opportunities in protected public parks. The study found that cultural ecosystem services, like birding, have non-market value and are essential to human well-being.
The project addresses data fragmentation in biodiversity sciences, connecting fragmented data to tackle biodiversity loss, climate change, and emerging public health threats. A collaborative effort developed five cross-cutting themes to guide data integration, emphasizing the need for large-scale community action.
Research at the University of Jyväskylä found that intensive forest management leads to habitat loss and reduced biodiversity in Finland. Harvesting still occurs in forests with high biodiversity values, highlighting the need for better protection.
Researchers found that increased canopy structural complexity drives positive biodiversity-productivity relationships in forests. Complementary use of canopy space by tree species enhances productivity and strengthens over time.
The Crown Princess of Sweden has been honoured with a professorship in biodiversity at the University of Gothenburg. The professorship, valued at 20 million Swedish kronor, will enable researchers to pursue interdisciplinary research and promote sustainability.
The IPBES report highlights five strategies to achieve transformative change: incorporating culture and ecology into conservation efforts, integrating biodiversity concerns into economic sectors, reforming governments, shifting societal values, and promoting incremental changes. The authors emphasize the urgent need for concerted effor...
A new multi-diversity index (MDI) developed by the University of Queensland has opened up a market for coastal wetland restoration projects. The index measures biodiversity gains in restored ecosystems, enabling landholders and communities to earn tradeable certificates with a market value.
Researchers found that species diversity is highest in landscapes with 60% unmanaged forests and 40% intensively managed forests. Extensively managed forests contribute little to support species richness, but improving their ecological performance can help maintain forest biodiversity.