Polinator health and safety or pollinator sprotection
There are many reasons for protecting pollinators. Alongside the concern that many of us have for the natural world, there are also clear economic arguments – such as the value of the ecosystem services they provide – and, of course, their essential role in ensuring the continued supply of many important agricultural crops.
Several factors can negatively affect certain pollinator populations. These include:
// Land-use change, particularly the loss of wildflower-rich grasslands and nesting sites// Habitat fragmentation
// Agricultural intensification
// Competition from non-native species
// Inappropriate use of pesticides
// Pests and diseases
// Changing weather patterns
The importance and interplay of these multiple stress factors differ from region to region.
While talk of a global pollinator crisis is overstated, there is an urgent need to identify the exact causes of the population declines seen for specific pollinators and to discover why other populations are thriving – and ultimately develop new ways to protect all pollinators.