News and Opinion - British Ecological Society

Why do protected areas matter?

Why should we care about the UK pledge to protect 30% of land and seas by 2030?

Warmer autumns could spell bad news for butterflies, suggests study

New research finds that longer and warmer autumns make it less likely that green-veined white butterflies will survive winter to emerge in spring.

Rolling wildflower blocks: benefits for biodiversity

Rolling wildflower blocks could be the more effective compensation measurement against insect decline than flower strips.

Biodiversity loss has knock-on effects on global markets

Biodiversity losses in countries with smaller, less-developed economies, impact large, developed economies.

Losing the cover of darkness

Study shows advances in street lighting are reducing the efficacy of coastal species’ camouflage.

Birds are laying their eggs earlier, and climate change is to blame

Hundred-year-old museum collections help show that birds are nesting earlier in the spring

Rewilding apex predators can limit the seed dispersal by frugivorous carnivores

New research finds the reintroduction of the Iberian lynx in Southern Spain could be limiting fruit dispersal from smaller carnivores

Protecting our most threatened and vulnerable: What does the future hold for the Wildlife and Countryside Act?

Changes to the Act have raised concerns that some threatened British species may lose important protection.

What do grasshoppers eat? New research shows similarities with mammal teeth

New research identifies startling similarities between the mouths of grasshoppers and mammal teeth.

Restoring tropical peatlands supports bird diversity without impacting livelihoods

A new study has found that oil palm can be farmed more sustainably on peatlands by re-wetting the land.

Scientists estimate invasive insects will kill 1.4 million US street trees by 2050

A new study estimates that over the next 30 years, damage to US street trees from invasive insects could cost over 900 million dollars.

Parental sugar intake has profound effects on offspring health, study finds

New study has challenges the traditional thinking around parental sugar intake and offspring fitness with some unexpected results.

Research and conservation action must be better linked to protect seabirds in the face of climate change

New ZSL-led study shows how latest knowledge of climate change threats could be better connected with conservation action to protect seabirds and other at-risk species.

Research demonstrates value ‘injurious weeds’ can bring to both pollinators and biodiversity

A new study demonstrates that weeds are far more valuable in supporting biodiversity than we give them credit for.

Allyship, inclusion and identifying privilege

The REED Network explore ways to handle challenging conversations and encourage effective allyship in the workplace.