Wed 21 Jul 10 Translating science into conservation practice: how to conserve wild bees Scientists at the University of Cambridge, UK, have brought together scientific knowledge and experience about how to conserve wild bees around the world in a free online resource called Bee Conservation: evidence for the effects of interventions. Bees are the most important wild pollinators. The bee synopsis summarises evidence for 59 different actions you could take to help bees, from planting flowers in farmland to supporting beekeepers keeping native species. Developed in partnership with an international group of bee experts, the synopsis is meant to inform people taking action or spending money to benefit bees – anyone from farmers to international NGOs – about what works and what doesn’t. This is part of a project called Conservation Evidence, which aims to make conservation practice more science-based. The project has an open access journal where conservationists document their experience and an online database of evidence. The series of synopses, of which Bee Conservation is the first, will cover major species groups and habitat types. Synopses are already being prepared for birds, butterflies, grassland and farmland.