Saving insect pollinators ensures human survival

DIVERSE species of insect pollinators around the globe, including honeybees, moths, butterflies, some specialised species of beetles, and flies are showing a sharp decline in their numbers due to numerous anthropogenic factors like over application of agri-chemicals, industrial pollution, global warming and climate change, parasitic diseases of bees, colony collapse disorder, lack of suitable nectar foraging plants and habitats, to mention only a few.

Pollinator insects are essential for agriculture, apiculture and forestry industries and for securing the dynamics of our ecology and economy. Conservation of insect pollinators is therefore important from the perspective of food security as they are responsible for pollinating over 70% of food crops around the planet. Hence, we have to protect the insect pollinators today to secure our future for tomorrow.

We need to tell our local communities of this grave ecological crisis facing our farmer-friendly, natural insect pollinators. More importantly, we need to educate our younger generation on the importance of conservation of these highly endangered insect pollinators.

Important research articles published in prestigious science journals and magazines often escape the attention of ordinary citizens. It is also important to explain to the public the significance of pollinator conservation and its challenges in non-technical terms and in simple language to spread the urgent message.

The media can serve as excellent outlets to reach stakeholders who could play significant roles in the efforts towards successful conservation of insect pollinators.

SAIKAT KUMAR BASU

Lethbridge AB, Canada