I'm posting this item because it is a good example of how we can use the Internet to see what is going on in the world of environmental concern. In this case concern about the threat to the Bee population in the UK and of course world wide. Starting with a brief look at the Guardian Environmental website which contains many reports,reviews and news items was this headline shown here:
This is a link to the item I was checking. The article is by Damian Carrington dated Nov 28th. Its quite a long piece and takes a bit of time to read in total so I guess I speed read such material. As usual in these articles there are many links and this time I went over them all to follow them up. That opens up a treasure trove of many sources of information which given some time can give you a very full appreciation of the current status of this issue.
As a Member of the Somerset Wildlife Trust I was pleased to see and read the short write up below, buried as it was with many other such items in the Government web site reporting on the Commons Select committee activities. I've copied a very brief part of the proceedings as a taster of what can be found. I found it all of considerable interest if only to show that the Wildlife Trusts are active in this way, something which I think they could do more to promote to their members.
Insects and Insecticides
Written evidence submitted by The Wildlife Trusts
The Wildlife Trusts welcome the opportunity to submit evidence to the Environment Audit Committee (EAC) regarding insects and insecticides.
Our evidence focuses on neonicotinoid insecticides, in particular:
· The impacts of neonicotinoids on insect pollinators (honeybees, bumblebees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths)
· Half-life in soil; routes of exposure and contamination of non- target vegetation (such as that found along field margins)
· Impacts on ecosystems in the agricultural landscape
· Inadequacy of risk assessment for these types of insecticides
The Wildlife Trusts’ position
1. There is a growing body of evidence that shows that neonicotinoids have a detrimental effect at sub-lethal doses on insect pollinators. For this reason, The Wildlife Trusts believe that until it can be categorically proven that neonicotinoids are not adversely impacting pollinator populations, and by extension ecosystem health, Government should adopt the precautionary principle and place a moratorium on their use on all outdoor crops.
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