Abstract
Many insect species are declining globally, yet they are largely overlooked in biodiversity conservation measures. This gap is most severe in the tropics, which harbor over 80% of insect species. To address this conservation gap, we assembled a global team of experts and identified four major challenges: limited global visibility, data shortfall, lack of infrastructure, and insufficient conservation actions. We propose a strategic framework that integrates diverse data sources, strengthens regional expertise, and links evidence to policy—highlighting an application in Bangladesh, a densely populated tropical country facing multiple conservation barriers. Centered on insects, our framework provides a pathway to measurable conservation outcomes, builds local capacity for delivery, and helps tropical countries meet biodiversity commitments.
Funding Information
  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (304291/2020-0)
  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (408764/2024-4)
  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (317331/2025-6)
  • Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (2021/03868-8)
  • Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (2023/04393-9)
  • Ramanujan Fellowship from the Government of India and research grants from the NCBS

This publication has 124 references indexed in Scilit: