Identifying the Knowledge and Capacity Gaps in Southeast Asian Insect Conservation

Area of Science:

• Ecology and Conservation Biology
• Biodiversity Studies
• Entomology

Background:

• Insects are crucial for terrestrial biodiversity, but global populations face decline due to human activities.
• Limited data on undescribed species and population dynamics impedes effective insect conservation, especially in biodiversity hotspots like Southeast Asia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify knowledge and capacity gaps in insect conservation within Southeast Asia.
• To assess the status of insect research, occurrence data, and public discourse on conservation in the region.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative review of insect occurrence records and scientific studies pertaining to Southeast Asia.
• Analysis of global '#conservation' posts on Twitter to gauge public representation of insects.
• Examination of authorship and funding trends in insect research.

Main Results:

• Insect occurrence records are increasing but dominated by butterflies; studies primarily focus on pest/vector groups, with a deficit in conservation and ecology research across many countries.
• While local authorship and funding have increased, most originate from outside Southeast Asia.
• Insects are under-represented on social media, with content biased towards popular groups like bees and butterflies.

Conclusions:

• Significant knowledge and capacity gaps exist for insect conservation in Southeast Asia.
• Proposed solutions include integrative taxonomy, enhanced regional collaborations, and public engagement.
• Urgent need for political will and dedicated funding to overcome conservation impediments and protect insect biodiversity.