A new review paper has highlighted the ways in which wasps contribute to their ecosystems, as well as benefiting the economy and human health. The study compiled evidence from over 500 academic papers, with researchers concluding that wasps deserve to be just as highly valued as other insects, such as bees.
Using satellite imaging, researchers have found that the Brazilian Amazon rainforest released more carbon than it stored over the last decade. Although a significant rise in deforestation was a contributing factor, the study revealed that degradation was a bigger cause, constituting three times more carbon loss than deforestation.
New research has offered valuable insight into the extent of human impact on the world’s plant-life. Analysis of fossilised pollen across 27 islands showed a consistent pattern on 24 of these islands, with human arrival accelerating the turnover of vegetation by an average factor of eleven.
Implementing nature-based solutions in cities can provide a host of benefits, such as carbon storage, reduced air pollution and improved wellbeing. According to a report by the British Ecological Society, even small-scale projects can offer a major contribution to environmental wellbeing.