Involved members of MultiTroph: Chao-Dong Zhu, Douglas Chesters, Alexandra-Maria Klein, Arong Luo, Michael Orr
Biological Conservation, Volume 285, September 2023, 110173, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2023.110173
Summary: This paper is a perspective on the challenges and opportunities for bee research and conservation in Asia. The authors, a collaborative group of researchers from 13 Asian countries and beyond, argue that strategies developed in North America or Europe may not be applicable due to Asia’s unique cultures, landscapes, and faunas. They highlight that Asia contains 15% of the world’s bee diversity, but this represents only 1% of the public global bee specimen data, and very few species have been assessed by the IUCN. The paper outlines the special circumstances of Asian bee research, the importance of social bees as flagships for lesser-known solitary bees, and the urgent need for further research for food security.
Conclusion: The authors conclude by outlining a framework for future research in the region, particularly through governmental and other partnerships, to effectively conserve bee species. They emphasize the need to quickly increase regional knowledge and tailor conservation planning to the specific challenges in Asia.