How biodiversity research contributes to action for nature
This month, Armenia is at the centre of nature conservation as it hosts COP17, the UN biodiversity conference. The event brings together government leaders, NGOs, and others from around the globe to advance a shared goal: protecting biodiversity. What does science bring to the conservation table? We highlight examples of how biodiversity research contributes to action for nature.
Smart lion collars for wildlife monitoring in Tanzania
In Tanzania, a smart lion collar gathers important data on human-wildlife encounters. Environmental scientists Emily Strange and Michiel Veldhuis, assistant professors at the Institute of Environmental Sciences at Leiden University work together with local wildlife organisations. Through innovative wildlife monitoring, they aim to better understand where and when these encounters occur, and when they lead to conflict.
Global research shows that mining threatens important biodiversity areas
A global study recently published in Nature Communications, led by environmental researcher Kaixuan Pan, shows how mining threatens some of the world’s most important areas for biodiversity. A third of world’s mining areas are located at the so-called conservation priority zones, which are often the habitat of endangered species.
Analysis of wild honey gives new insights in the Philippines’ biodiversity
In the tropical forest of Palaui, a small island in the Philippines, harvesting wild honey has been a sustainable source of income for centuries. Together with a group of scientists from the University of the Philippines, ecologist Merlijn van Weerd conducts a chemical analysis on the island’s honey to gain new insights into the region’s biodiversity. According to Van Weerd, it is ‘an additional reason to protect the national tree properly.’
Tiny GPS trackers can contribute to protecting bats in the Netherlands
This spring, Leiden researchers gained a surprising insight into the life of bats. Fieldwork in Leiden and Rotterdam showed that these nocturnal species spend a substantial portion of the night resting, often outdoors. Tiny GPS trackers shared where the bats go and what they are doing. This valuable combination of data could change the way we protect them.