<
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-23/butterfly-forest-created-to-help-biodiversity-awareness-/103884448>
'Scientists who have recreated a Tanzanian rainforest in the Italian Alps say
they hope it will help the world's declining butterfly population.
The Butterfly Forest project in Trento aims to recreate the humid habitat of
the Udzungwa Mountains, a global biodiversity hotspot in south-central
Tanzania.
Inside the greenhouse, butterfly pupae grow into adult insects while
butterflies of various species and colours — some bigger than a person's hand —
fly freely.
Scientists have long used butterflies as indicators of biodiversity due to
their multiple roles in the ecosystem, and they are also used to study the
impact of habitat loss and other threats.
But there are fears that a failure to protect insects from the effects of
deforestation and climate change will drastically reduce the planet’s ability
to build a sustainable future.
"Insects in general play a fundamental role in the proper functioning of
ecosystems," said Mauro Gobbi, an entomologist and researcher at Italian
science museum Museo delle Scienze (MUSE), which runs the greenhouse.
"Our work consists of monitoring and trying to develop projects in order to
bring attention to biodiversity-related issues."'
Via
Fix the News:
<
https://fixthenews.com/good-news-global-life-expectancy-domestic-violence-australia-emissions-china/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
