Habitat loss and pesticides are destroying pollinators

The number of bees and other pollinators is continuing to decline worldwide due to the destruction of nature and the use of pesticides, according to a new study.

Monocultures and chemical fertilisers

The expansion of grazing land for livestock, monocultures, and the use of chemical fertilisers are also significant factors in the decline of pollinators, according to the study.

«These tiny creatures play a central role in the world’s ecosystems, including many ecosystems that humans and other animals depend on for food. If they disappear, we could be in serious trouble», says Lynn Dicks, lead author of the study and professor at the Department of Zoology in Cambridge.

Devastating consequences for food supply

In Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, and Latin America — all areas where poorer rural populations depend on wild-grown food — the impact of pollinator decline on wild plants and fruits poses a serious threat.

Latin America was identified as the region with the most to lose, as insect-pollinated crops such as cashews, soybeans, coffee, and cocoa are essential for local food supplies and international trade.

In China and India, which are increasingly reliant on fruit and vegetable crops that require pollinators, the loss of natural sources means that pollen transfer sometimes has to be carried out by hand.

Further reading: Study: Pollinators: First global risk index for species declines and effects on humanity