Who Gets the Lion’s Share? HKU Ecologists Highlight Disparities in Global Biodiversity Conservation Funding
The extensive loss of biodiversity represents one of the major crises of our time, threatening not only entire ecosystems but also our current and future livelihoods. As scientists realise the magnitude and scale of ongoing extinctions, it is vital to ascertain the resources available for conservation and whether funds are being effectively distributed to protect species most in need. A team of researchers from the School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), addressed these questions in a recent paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), USA, by compiling information on nearly 15,000 funded projects focused on species conservation. Professor Benoit GUÉNARD, the lead author of the study, noted that, ‘Our first conclusion is that funding for species conservation research remains extremely limited with only US$ 1.93 billion allocated over 25 years in the projects we assessed.’ The international conservation funding from 37 governments and NGOs represented a mere 0.3% and 0.01% of the annual budget of the NASA or US military, respectively. This stark comparison underscores the urgent need to dramatically increase such funding to slow global biodiversity loss. The authors also examined the allocation of this funding to specific species or groups of organisms based on their conservation needs as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, often called the ‘barometer of life’. Professor Guénard explains, ‘Based on previous literature-based studies, we expected biases towards vertebrates and, whilst this was true, we found the situation much worse than previously estimated. Even within vertebrates, many of the most threatened groups, like amphibians, were largely underfunded with declining funding trends over time.’ Another striking example can be found in reptiles, particularly lizards and snakes, where over a thousand species have been identified as threatened, yet 87% of the funding towards reptile conservation is directed towards the seven species of marine turtles. Professor Guénard states, ‘This highlights an important mismatch between scientific assessment of conservation and allocation of funding by conservation stakeholders, which appears to rely on the “charisma” of species. This leads to nearly a third of the funding directed to non-threatened species while almost 94% of threatened species have not received any support.’ Some groups, like plants or insects, received a mere 6% each of the funding despite their vast diversity and the number of threatened species they include, while other major groups, such as fungi or algae, received virtually no funding. Professor Alice HUGHES, a co-author of the study, echoed, ‘Our traditional view of what is threatened often does not align with species genuinely at threat, leaving many smaller, or “less charismatic” species neglected. We urgently need to reframe this perspective and better allocate funding across taxa if we want any hope of redressing widespread population declines and the continued loss of biodiversity.’ Based on these findings, the researchers are calling for a new approach to conservation funding. Whilst species conservation is in dire need of additional funding, a more rigorous approach to selecting projects and species to receive those limited funds is urgently needed. Professor Guénard emphasises, ‘Conservation agencies and NGOs need to modify their philosophy towards conservation to protect all species, and not just a subset based on subjective criteria of charisma or beauty.’ In the future, the research team hopes their database can be expanded so information on funding allocation is more transparent and easily accessible. This would help evaluate existing gaps, plan effective future conservation efforts at a global scale, and reduce redundancy in funding for species that already receive the lion's share of support. Variation over time of the percentage of funded single-species conservation projects (A) and funds received per taxonomic group (B) for the period 1992-2017. The total number of funded projects A) and the total amount of funds received in millions of U.S. $ B) for each taxonomic group is presented on the right y-axis. For each 5-year period, the number of projects and of funding agencies (in parentheses) A) and the total funding amount B) are presented on top of the chart. Image adapted from respective paper.
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Exploring the Frontiers of Science: A Student’s Journey to an International Influenza Conference
Peter WONG BSc student (major in Biochemistry) With the generous support of the Faculty of Science under the Young Scientist Scheme (YSS), I recently had the privilege of attending the 12th Options for the Control of Influenza, an international conference dedicated to influenza and other respiratory viruses, held in Brisbane, Australia. This eye-opening experience provided an invaluable opportunity for me to engage with leading experts in the field and delve deeper into cutting-edge research on respiratory virology. I am currently a final-year Bachelor of Science student majoring in Biochemistry at HKU, conducting my capstone project under the guidance of Professors Michael Chan and Kenrie Hui from the School of Public Health. My project focuses on investigating the pathogenesis of infection and virus-host interactions. Specifically, we utilize primary respiratory organoid cultures as a physiologically relevant alternative to human respiratory tissue explant for studying viral infections. Our goal is to enhance the risk assessment workflow with Bulk RNAseq transcriptomics analysis to better understand and compare the pathogenesis of emerging respiratory viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2. Participating in this conference broadened my perspective on respiratory virus research. The event featured seminars and presentations on a range of topics, including zoonotic influenza virus spillover, vaccine development, and antiviral efficacy. Beyond the main conference, I also attended the Mini-School of Influenza, a lecture-based programme covering foundational concepts in respiratory virology, public health, epidemiology, surveillance, and research-driven vaccine development. These sessions complemented my studies at HKU and provided an advanced extension of the knowledge I have gained. A highlight of the conference was the chance to exchange ideas with researchers from around the world. I had the pleasure of meeting Associate Professor Claire Smith from University College London’s Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, whose research interests and focuses on using primary human epithelial respiratory virus infection models, including respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, and coronavirus. In particular, her group has been exploring the incorporation of neutrophils into these models to study their responses during viral infection. This interesting expansion of the in vitro models provides a valuable approach to studying immune cell response and their contribution to disease progression. The experience was not limited to academic pursuits. While in Brisbane, I explored the city’s vibrant culture and unique wildlife. A visit to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary allowed me to experience the unique Australian wildlife and biodiversity firsthand. Additionally, I enjoyed a memorable breakfast at the historic Pancake Manor, housed in St Luke’s Church of England, a building dating back to 1904. These moments added depth to my trip, offering a balance of scientific enrichment and cultural discovery. Reflecting on this experience, I am deeply grateful to the Faculty of Science for supporting my participation at the 12th edition of Options for the Control of Influenza. Attending the conference not only expanded my understanding of current trends and challenges in respiratory virology but also confirmed my passion for this field. It has inspired me to pursue PhD studies focused on virus-host interactions, marking a significant milestone in my academic journey.
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