Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 108427 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Biological Conservation |
| Early online date | 9 Feb 2020 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 9 Feb 2020 |
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Solutions for humanity on how to conserve insects. / Samways, Michael; Barton, Philip; Birkhofer, Klaus; Chichorro, Filipe; Deacon, Charl; Fartmann, Thomas ; Fukushima, Caroline; Gaigher, Rene; Habel, Jan ; Hallmann, Caspar; Hill, Matthew; Hochkirch, Axel ; Kaila, Lauri; Kwak, Mackenzie; Maes, Dirk ; Mammola, Stefanno; Ari Noriega, Jorge; Orfinger, Alexander; Pedraza, Fernando ; Pryke, James; Roque, Fabio; Settele, Josef ; Simaika, John ; Stork, Nigel; Suhling, Frank; Vorster, Carlien; Cardoso, Pedro .
In: Biological Conservation, 09.02.2020.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Solutions for humanity on how to conserve insects
AU - Samways, Michael
AU - Barton, Philip
AU - Birkhofer, Klaus
AU - Chichorro, Filipe
AU - Deacon, Charl
AU - Fartmann, Thomas
AU - Fukushima, Caroline
AU - Gaigher, Rene
AU - Habel, Jan
AU - Hallmann, Caspar
AU - Hill, Matthew
AU - Hochkirch, Axel
AU - Kaila, Lauri
AU - Kwak, Mackenzie
AU - Maes, Dirk
AU - Mammola, Stefanno
AU - Ari Noriega, Jorge
AU - Orfinger, Alexander
AU - Pedraza, Fernando
AU - Pryke, James
AU - Roque, Fabio
AU - Settele, Josef
AU - Simaika, John
AU - Stork, Nigel
AU - Suhling, Frank
AU - Vorster, Carlien
AU - Cardoso, Pedro
PY - 2020/2/9
Y1 - 2020/2/9
N2 - The fate of humans and insects intertwine, especially through the medium of plants. Global environmental change, including land transformation and contamination, is causing concerning insect diversity loss, articulated in the companion review Scientists' warning to humanity on insect extinctions. Yet, despite a sound philosophical foundation, recognized ethical values, and scientific evidence, globally we are performing poorly at instigating effective insect conservation. As insects are a major component of the tapestry of life, insect conservation would do well to integrate better with overall biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. This also involves popularizing insects, especially through use of iconic species, through more media coverage, and more inclusive education. Insect conservationists need to liaise better with decision makers, stakeholders, and land managers, especially at the conceptually familiar scale of the landscape. Enough evidence is now available, and synthesized here, which illustrates that multiple strategies work at local levels towards saving insects. We now need to expand these locally-crafted strategies globally. Tangible actions include ensuring maintenance of biotic complexity, especially through improving temporal and spatial heterogeneity, functional connectivity, and metapopulation dynamics, while maintaining unique habitats, across landscape mosaics, as well as instigating better communication. Key is to have more expansive sustainable agriculture and forestry, improved regulation and prevention of environmental risks, and greater recognition of protected areas alongside agro-ecology in novel landscapes. Future-proofing insect diversity is now critical, with the benefits far reaching, including continued provision of valuable ecosystem services and the conservation of a rich and impressive component of Earth's biodiversity.
AB - The fate of humans and insects intertwine, especially through the medium of plants. Global environmental change, including land transformation and contamination, is causing concerning insect diversity loss, articulated in the companion review Scientists' warning to humanity on insect extinctions. Yet, despite a sound philosophical foundation, recognized ethical values, and scientific evidence, globally we are performing poorly at instigating effective insect conservation. As insects are a major component of the tapestry of life, insect conservation would do well to integrate better with overall biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. This also involves popularizing insects, especially through use of iconic species, through more media coverage, and more inclusive education. Insect conservationists need to liaise better with decision makers, stakeholders, and land managers, especially at the conceptually familiar scale of the landscape. Enough evidence is now available, and synthesized here, which illustrates that multiple strategies work at local levels towards saving insects. We now need to expand these locally-crafted strategies globally. Tangible actions include ensuring maintenance of biotic complexity, especially through improving temporal and spatial heterogeneity, functional connectivity, and metapopulation dynamics, while maintaining unique habitats, across landscape mosaics, as well as instigating better communication. Key is to have more expansive sustainable agriculture and forestry, improved regulation and prevention of environmental risks, and greater recognition of protected areas alongside agro-ecology in novel landscapes. Future-proofing insect diversity is now critical, with the benefits far reaching, including continued provision of valuable ecosystem services and the conservation of a rich and impressive component of Earth's biodiversity.
KW - Human well-being
KW - Conservation action
KW - Conservation strategies
KW - Habitat management
KW - Climate change
KW - Species extinction
U2 - 10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108427
DO - 10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108427
M3 - Review article
JO - Biological Conservation
JF - Biological Conservation
SN - 0006-3207
M1 - 108427
ER -