Scientists at Monash University have developed a framework intended to improve conservation of insects in tropical regions, where the vast majority of global insect diversity is concentrated. The research, published in BioScience and led by Dr. Shawan Chowdhury, highlights a fundamental imbalance in conservation efforts. While insects represent the most diverse animal group on the planet with an estimated 14 to 30 million species, most conservation science originates from temperate regions that account for only about 20 percent of insect diversity. This geographic mismatch creates significant risks for conservation effectiveness, particularly since insects play critical roles in pollinating over 80 percent of wild plant species and supporting food webs essential to global food production.
The research team identified four major obstacles to tropical insect conservation: limited global visibility of existing research, substantial data gaps, insufficient scientific infrastructure, and inadequate implementation of conservation actions. The framework recommends drawing on diverse information sources beyond traditional scientific publications, including regional studies in local languages, museum collections, indigenous knowledge, citizen science contributions, and social media records. The researchers emphasize the importance of strengthening scientific capacity within tropical regions and ensuring that evidence reaches policymakers capable of implementing conservation decisions.
The disparity in available data is substantial. Nearly 26 percent of all insect distribution records in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility originate from the United Kingdom alone, despite tropical regions containing most of the world’s insect species. The team used Bangladesh as a case study, identifying 111 butterfly studies within the country, of which only 34 appeared in international journals. Social media platforms unexpectedly emerged as valuable biodiversity sources, with Facebook containing records for 167 of 169 threatened butterfly species in Bangladesh.
The framework advocates moving away from what researchers term “parachute science,” a model where international scientists treat tropical communities primarily as data sources rather than equal research partners. Instead, the approach emphasizes locally-led research, increased investment in regional scientific infrastructure, stronger taxonomic expertise, sustained monitoring programs, equitable international collaboration, and improved connections between scientists and decision-makers. The study involved researchers from eight countries across multiple continents.
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