Description
Mainstreaming biodiversity within urban environments is essential to support ecosystem services for rapidly expanding urban populations. However, significant ecological and sociological challenges hinder its realization. While green spaces provide crucial urban habitats for wildlife, realizing their full potential requires the implementation of biodiversity-friendly management practices. Furthermore, the social dimension is critical when designing urban spaces to support increased wildlife presence, as closer human-wildlife interactions can elevate the risk of conflict. Overcoming these obstacles is crucial to effectively harness biodiversity-supported ecosystem services in cities. This is particularly important in tropical Asian cities, where rapid urbanization is projected to continue in coming decades.In this talk, I will present our research that advances the mainstreaming of insect pollinator diversity in Hong Kong, using bees and wasps as focal taxa. I will cover three areas: (1) baseline surveys of bee and wasp communities in diverse urban green spaces, documenting their interactions with local flora; (2) investigation of seasonal changes in these interactions; and (3) assessment of public attitudes toward mainstreaming bee and wasp diversity through a public perception study. I will conclude by discussing the challenges and opportunities identified through this work.
By integrating ecological knowledge of insect pollinators with public perceptions, our research will inform the development of sustainable urban ecosystems that support both biodiversity and human well-being in Hong Kong and other rapidly urbanizing regions.
| Period | 11 Apr 2025 |
|---|---|
| Event title | Ecology and Biodiversity Seminar Series |
| Event type | Seminar |
| Location | Hong Kong, ChinaShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | Local |