Reversing the Decline of Insects
The Wildlife Trusts have published a report, Reversing the Decline of Insects.
In the Foreword Craig Bennett, the Chief Executive of the Wildlife Trusts, says that 41% of wildlife species in the UK have declined in the 48 years he has been alive, and insects have suffered the most. This is due to destruction of habitat and overuse of chemical sprays; light pollution and climate change also play a part.
Insects are the dominant form of life on earth, with at least a million species, and perhaps as many as 5 million. They perform services and are a major food source.
This report is focused on concerted action to halt and reverse the decline of insects.
Section 1: Insect Recovery Networks
Conserving species diversity and abundance is not going to work by looking after a portfolio of small and disconnected nature reserves. A landscape scale approach is needed with more, bigger, better-protected and better-connected wildlife-rich areas.
Our gardens, urban areas, road verges, railways and river banks are key to this; nature-friendly farming is important too.
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity calls for at least 30% of land to be wildlife-rich habitats free of pesticides, and linked up.
Section 2: Insects in the Farmed Landscapes
The report identifies that:
- 70% of the UK is farmland
- 97% of flower-rich hay meadows were lost in the C20th
- 80% of chalk downlands were destroyed, also in the C20th
- pesticide applications per field doubled between 1990 & 2016
The Wildlife Trusts want the government to set targets for major reductions in pesticide use, and to work with nature.
Section 3: Insects in our Towns and Cities
The report states that gardens cover half a million hectares, a bigger area than all of our nature reserves. There is no downside to making urban areas more insect-friendly.
Pesticide Action Network UK is leading the call for pesticide-free towns, and the Wildlife Trusts want targets set by government, and local authorities to eliminate unnecessary use of pesticides and make space for nature in towns and cities.
Section 4: Insects in our Rivers and Streams
Insects thrive in clean rivers and streams.
Our rivers have been polluted with fertilisers, dung, silt, sewage, pesticides, industrial chemicals and human drugs. Over-extraction of water and invasive non-native species are problems too.
Four out of five rivers in England and Wales are failing ecological health tests.
New legislation is needed to build on the EU Water Framework Directive; the system of farm payments must reduce pesticide use and prevent soil and chemical run-off. Natural processes must be restored across whole landscapes – wetland habitats should be allowed to filter the water that runs off land and stop our soils being washed downstream.
We can all do our bit by creating more ponds or boggy areas.
Section 5: Insect Champions
We need a strong collective voice calling for nature’s recovery: we have to tell policymakers what we want, but take action ourselves too in our daily lives.
Conclusion
The report concludes on an optimistic note: there is still time to save our insect populations, which can recover swiftly if we meet their basic needs.
Among the most important points are:
- 30% of our land and seas managed to be rich in wildlife, and properly connected
- ambitious pesticide reduction targets
- everyone taking action for insects