News in the Framework of the European Business & Biodiversity Campaign

New insights on drought and heat vulnerability

Too hot and too dry: the summer of 2018 saw losses in arable crops of up to 50 percent in some regions of Germany. As such weather extremes are likely to increase in the future, adapting agriculture to climate change is crucial.

A new bioeconomy strategy for a sustainable Europe

Commission puts forward an action plan to develop a sustainable and circular bioeconomy that serves Europe's society, environment and economy

Species-rich forests store twice as much carbon as monocultures

Reforestation with a variety of tree species would help biodiversity and climate

More than a thousand vegetables, many of them forgotten

Bioversity International and partners reveal that most of the world's vegetable species are poorly documented, and present a study and database with the aim to help promote and recognize the value of these 'forgotten foods'.

IUCN launches global alliance for greener cities

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has launched a global initiative which aims to create greener, more liveable cities that will improve the health, well-being and prosperity of people living in urban areas, with support from Arcadia, a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin.

Remote islands harbour higher numbers of non-native species

The effects of island remoteness from the mainland on the number of species found on islands differs strongly for non-native compared to native species.

Ban on neonicotinoid insecticides: France is leading the way in Europe

The use of five neonicotinoid (NNI) insecticide substances that have proven to have particularly harmful effects on the environment (especially pollinators, and that includes bees above all) will now, as from 1 September 2018, be banned in France.

Many facets of biodiversity reduce variability of grassland biomass production

A new study shows that, in addition to species richness, plant evolutionary history plays a critical role in regulating year-to-year variation of biomass production in grasslands.

Species-Rich Forests Better Compensate Environmental Impacts

To offset CO2 emissions, China is reforesting. An international team including UZH researchers has shown that species-rich forest ecosystems take up more CO2 from the atmosphere and store more carbon in biomass and soil, making them more effective against climate change.

Bees need it colorful

Stopping bee extinction is a goal of scientists. Researches under the leadership of the University of Würzburg have discovered that a diversified plant environment helps bees in maintaining stable populations.