News and Opinion - British Ecological Society

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.

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.

Interactive map helps protect one of the UK’s most threatened mammals

Researchers develop new tool to map suitable habitats for threatened water voles in Glasgow.

Dog faeces and urine could be harming nature reserves, according to new study

New research finds that dogs in nature reserves contribute a significant amount of nutrients to the environment, which could harm biodiversity.

Study explores how temperate rainforests can aid the fight against climate change

Livestock browsing behaviour is a major determinant of the expansion of UK temperate rainforests.

New conservation tool calculates the optimal time to spend researching a habitat before protecting it

Deciding when to stop learning and take action is a common, but difficult decision in conservation. Using a new method, this trade-off can be managed by determining the amount of time to spend on research at the outset.

New research shows that current national red squirrel conservation strategies likely to undermine species survival in future

Red squirrel conservation strategies in the UK and Ireland, that favour non-native conifer plantations, are likely to negatively impact red squirrels.

Urban gardens are a dependable food source for pollinators through the year, study suggests

Gardens in cities provide a long and continuous supply of energy-rich nectar from March to October.

Loss of tree species has cumulative impact on biodiversity

Diseases affecting different UK tree species have shown to have a multiplying effect on the loss of associated biodiversity.

Woodland and hedgerow creation will be crucial to support pollinators in Wales

The largest survey of pollinator abundance in Wales has found that woodland and hedgerow creation can play a crucial role in action to reverse declines in insects.

A Super Year for Nature in Scotland

2021 has been dubbed the super year for nature, but what does this mean for science policy in Scotland?

Demystifying Policy in Scotland

Bethany Chamberlain, BES Policy Officer has written a blog on her experience of the Policy Training event held by SPRE and SPG in September!

Honeybees’ waggle dance reveals bees in rural areas travel further for food

By decoding honeybees’ waggle dances, researchers have found that bees in agricultural areas travel further for food than those in urban areas.

An interview with Dr Chris Pollard

The Scottish Policy Group’s written interview series to celebrate 10 years!

An interview with Dr Lucy Quinn

The Scottish Policy Group's written interview series to celebrate 10 years!