Apocalypse of bees: 9% of pollinating insects risk extinction, according to the ISPRA report

    According to the ISPRA report, loss of habitat, pesticides and invasive species would be the greatest dangers for the precious pollinating insects

    According to the ISPRA report, loss of habitat, pesticides and invasive species would be the greatest dangers for the precious pollinating insects





    The phenomenon ofpollination it is of fundamental importance for the conservation of biodiversity and for the proper functioning of ecosystems: without the help of bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects, many plants would not be able to reproduce. This would cause an impoverishment of the flora and, consequently, scarcity of food for many animals that feed on the plants; human nutrition also largely depends on the pollinating action of insects - without which it would lose many important foods such as fruits, seeds and vegetable oils, but also materials such as wood, cotton and linen.

    Unfortunately, however, the variety of pollinating insects is seriously threatened and risks extinction. This is what emerges from the report conducted by the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA):

    About 9% of the species of bees and butterflies are at risk of extinction and with them also the contributions they make available to the communities, including the pollination of plants. carry-over. - About 90% of wild flowering plants need pollinators to reproduce; over 75% of the main agricultural crops benefit from the pollination carried out by tens of thousands of animal species (at least 16 among insects). The economic value of the animal pollination service is estimated at around 153 billion euros per year on a world scale, 22 billion on a European scale and 3 billion on a national scale. World agricultural production directly associated with pollination represents an estimated economic value of between 199 and 589 billion euros.

    The study focuses in particular on the importance of wild species (in Europe there are over 2.500), which are extremely precious to compensate for the disappearance of extinct species. The wild bees, for example, they can replace honey bees if they are not abundant enough, managing to pollinate flowers and plants more effectively: osmia e bumblebees they carry out a vibro-pollination by shaking the flower and managing to pollinate even the plants that cannot be fertilized by honey bees - as is the case with tomatoes, blueberries and peppers; some species of solitary bees also practice this particular type of pollination, grabbing the flower and shaking it with the flapping of their wings. It is important to remember that wild bees are more effective also because they are able to adapt to adverse climatic conditions, in which honey bees are unable to fly.



    But what causes these insects to decline? According to the report, there are various environmental pressures that contribute to the extinction of pollinators: habitat destruction, environmental pollution, intensive agricultural practices (primarily the use of pesticides), climate change, invasive alien species (such as pathogens and parasites, but also plant species that alter habitats or are toxic to native pollinating species). In short, the damage that man causes to the environment changes it too quickly for insects to adapt, and this leads them to extinction.

    What can be done to stop the emergency? Community strategies currently exist at European level and concrete commitments to safeguard biodiversity and consequent food security. One such strategy is the EU program Farm to Fork, which among its objectives proposes the reduction of soil exploitation and the use of pesticides, the spread of sustainable agriculture, the maintenance of wild plant species through uncultivated areas (even in urban environments).

    Apocalypse of bees: 9% of pollinating insects risk extinction, according to the ISPRA report

    The objectives of the European Union Farm to Fork program for food safety (@ European Community)

    HERE you can read the full ISPRA report

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