15th May 2018
Published under: Why Natural Capital?
This article was originally published on Phys.org “America’s smallest raptor, the American kestrel, can boost economies in Michigan and other fruit-growing states, new research shows. It’s the first study to measure regional job creation aided by the activity of native predators. American kestrels range from Alaska to South America. They dine on bugs, small mammals… [more]
14th May 2018
Published under: Why Natural Capital?
This article was originally published on the Conversation. “Insect pests cause a huge amount of damage to crops globally. In Australia alone, pests are responsible for around A$360 million of crop losses a year. Controlling pest outbreaks is crucial for food security and human health. Since the 1940s, our primary defence against crop pests has been synthetic pesticides. But… [more]
17th April 2018
Published under: Enabling Environment,Why Natural Capital?
This article was originally published on Salon. “New crop practices trap more carbon in the soil, increasing rainfall and adding profits For the past century, the world’s climate has rapidly warmed, spurred by a precipitous increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases that trap the sun’s heat in the atmosphere, preventing it from rebounding into space. However,… [more]
13th April 2018
Published under: Why Natural Capital?
This article was originally published on ScienceNews. “Every autumn, a quiet mountain pass in the Swiss Alps turns into an insect superhighway. For a couple of months, the air thickens as millions of migrating flies, moths and butterflies make their way through a narrow opening in the mountains. For Myles Menz, it’s a front-row seat… [more]
13th April 2018
Published under: Case Studies,Why Natural Capital?
This article was originally published on Ensia. “Years of eavesdropping on insect sex talk is starting to pay off for grape growers: Disrupting the vibrations insects use to find mates could help prevent the spread of disease in vineyards around the world. Entomologists have taken the act of bugging conversations to a whole new level —… [more]
10th April 2018
Published under: Data Tools & Methodologies
This paper was originally published in Global Food Security. Highlights Crop yield depends on biotic pest regulation, pollination, and nutrient cycling. Such dependence occurs simultaneously, rather than one service at a time. Complementary effects between services on crop yield are the most frequent. Positive interactions are common, while evidence for negative interactions is weak. Agricultural… [more]