Space technologies emerge as valuable tools for safeguarding pollinators, including bees, wasps, bumblebees, and other insects crucial for pollination. The use of drones, designed even to replicate the pollinating activities of bees, presents an innovative approach. Pollinators provide essential “ecosystem services,” vital for the reproduction of food crops.
The alteration of landscapes caused by human intervention poses a threat to the lives of these insects. To plan effective conservation initiatives, it is essential to precisely identify critical areas. The research team at the University of Exeter combines data from satellites, on-site surveys, and drones, integrating them with behavioral information to gain a comprehensive view of the insect environment.
Satellite images enable the monitoring of changes in flower presence, often influenced by human activity, providing extensive archives for studying the evolution of vegetation cover over time. This thorough integration of satellite data, drones, and behavioral studies reveals hazardous situations for pollinators, such as intensive agriculture, pesticide use, and biodiversity loss due to urbanization.
The combined application of information from various sources allows for the development of targeted conservation programs for different types of terrain. Modern technologies, including drones, prove crucial for monitoring, controlling, and safeguarding the environment, with bee protection serving as a prime example of this effective synergy between science and technology.