New Mapping Technique Offers Hope for Madagascan Wildlife

Environmentalists, governments, researchers and even some businesses have good reason to protect the world’s biodiversity. High-resolution satellite images allow researchers to identify and map biodiversity “hotspots,” reports Jessica Aldred in the Guardian. “Traditionally, conservation work has focused on protecting just one species or group, like the giant panda, in the belief that saving one high-profile species would protect those nearby,” Aldred explains. The research published in the journal Science, however, shows that conserving the habitat of one group can exclude up to 50 percent of other species. Such technology could be a double-edged sword, encouraging protection for some habitats, but also giving developers an excuse to build in other areas or even assisting hunters target prey. – YaleGlobal