Conservation Biology

07/01/2025

🌿 Refugia for a rare tree in a changing world
Herbert et al. modeled disease risk, soil waterlogging, and road access to identify high-priority refugia for Syzygium maire, a threatened wetland tree in Aotearoa New Zealand under threat from myrtle rust.

🔍 Using integrated species distribution models and high-resolution hydrological data, they found that just 1–52 km² of habitat across the Wellington region may be suitable, accessible, and relatively low-risk. But that’s not enough-active restoration and management are essential to save this species.

🌧️ Disease, drainage, and development have reduced habitat-but people can help restore it.
🌱 The study highlights how local knowledge, access, and conservation action must align to protect species like S. maire from extinction.

📖 Read more in Conservation Biology:

Identifying refugia from emerging threats is vital to ensure the persistence of rare and threatened species, but modeling habitat distribution for these species is challenging and the role of people ...

06/29/2025

🌫️ New in Conservation Biology:
Forest fire smoke isn’t just harming human health-it’s also threatening endangered Amazon river dolphins.

Aliaga-Rossel et al show how intensified smoke exposure can cause serious respiratory issues in these vulnerable cetaceans, especially during the dry season when they can’t escape polluted habitats.

📖 Read more: https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.70098

Click on the article title to read more.

06/28/2025

Re-announcement 📢
Join the Movement: Become a Nature Defender! 🌿
Are you a passionate undergraduate student (3rd year or below) eager to protect nature and drive real change?
Nepal Nature’s Defenders — a youth-led campaign by Society for Conservation Biology Nepal and Conservation Nepal — is building a strong network of young conservation leaders in colleges and communities across Nepal!
🚀 Why Should You Join?
✅ Take the lead in conservation efforts at your college and in your local community
✅ Get practical experience in sustainability, advocacy, and research
✅ Boost your leadership and teamwork skills
✅ Collaborate with passionate peers and make a lasting impact on the environment
Let’s empower the next generation of eco-leaders! 🌍💚
📅 Apply by: 5th July, 2025
📝 Fill out the form now: https://forms.gle/HXbwzj7PgfH1thgb6
📩 Got questions? Contact us at: [email protected]
Be the change. Be a Nature Defender. 🌱

06/26/2025

In this article, Zhang et al share that in is nonrandom, exhibiting high demand, particularly for small- and large-ranged species. You can read their full article at https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.70095

Wildlife trade poses a major threat to biodiversity, yet the drivers determining which species are traded are not fully understood. Through a comprehensive collection of official and online trade dat...

06/22/2025

Are you a registered SCB member? Here are some benefits to enjoy once you join this team. Looking forward to receive you on board.

06/21/2025

#🧩 What does a Rubik’s Cube have to do with biodiversity?

On this International Day for Biological Diversity, Ana M. M. Sequeira and Erika J. E. Techera remind us that conserving life on Earth isn’t just about good science or strong laws—it’s about aligning science, law, and human values across time and space.

Like solving a Rubik’s Cube, true conservation success depends on aligning every face—ecological data, legal frameworks, and cultural priorities—at the right time. Their latest article in Conservation Biology uses the case of marine megafauna to highlight how mismatches across these dimensions hinder progress, and how we can shift toward smarter, more integrated solutions.

🌊 Read more about how this metaphor helps unlock new thinking for a complex crisis:
https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14416

06/21/2025

🌍 Protected areas aren't always protecting where it's needed most. New study by Pulido-Chadid, Rahbek & Geldmann finds many highly threatened regions- especially for amphibians & mammals-are left vulnerable despite global PA growth. 🐸🦇🌿
Read more: https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.70086

06/17/2025

🐾 Protected areas work-but only if maintained long-term. Cristiano et al. show that continuous protection since the 1970s cut mammal extirpation rates in half. Strategic, lasting conservation matters.
📖 https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.70092

06/13/2025

🌊 New research highlights key seabird conservation priorities across the U.S. ! 🐦 A combination of expert surveys and technical risk assessments identified top species most in need of colony restoration, including black-footed and Polynesian storm-petrel. 🌴🐣

Read more from Raine et al at: https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.70084

The U.S. Pacific Islands (USPIs) comprise a globally significant region for seabirds, with some of the largest and most diverse assemblages of tropical seabird species in the world. To help direct se...