The International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN) on Saturday warned that The survival of wild pollinators in Europe is increasingly at risk. In its latest evaluation, which is the most complex assessment of the state of wild bees, Iucn has ranked dozens of bee species and butterflies. Informed AFP, writes TASR.
- The number of threatened butterflies in Europe has increased significantly over the decade.
- Pollination is crucial for flowering plants and agriculture.
- Loss of habitats and climate change is threatened by pollinators’ populations.
Almost all flowering plants in Europe are dependent on wild pollinators, especially on beesBut the loss of habitats and climate change are catching up with many of these important species to the brink of extinction. According to the updated edition of the so -called. Red list of endangered IUCN species In Europe, at least 172 out of 1928 of the bee -examined species – compared to 77 in 2014, is in danger of extinction.
“The populations of wild bees are dramatically decreasing and cannot be easily replaced by breeding colonies,” Denis Michez of the University of Monsa, who led research, pointed out. “If wild bees disappear, many types of plants will also be at risk – such as meadow flowers or orchids,” Michez stressed.
The IUCN evaluation also showed that the number of at risk of butterflies in Europe has increased by 76 percent over the past decade: more than 40 percent of butterflies that occur exclusively on the European continent are at risk. One species – Madeira White Butterfly (Pieris Brassicae Wollastoni), who lived only on the Portuguese island of Madeira – Iucn has already declared extinct.
“Pollinators such as bees and butterflies are not only beautiful and culturally significant – they are vital to our health, food systems and the economy, Because they allow the growth of fruits, vegetables and seeds that feed us, ”recalled Iucn Grethel, CEO, Grethel Aguilar.
The main threat to European bees and butterflies remains the loss of habitats caused by agriculture and forestry. The activities of these ministries disappear habitats crucial for survival pollinators – eg. Flowering meadows. In addition, the viability of pollinating species decreases due to the widespread use of fertilizers and pesticides, thereby reducing the variety of flowers.
Climate change already affects more than half of the endangered butterflies in Europe – Longer dry and devastating fires that accompany climate changes can destroy their habitats for years. The effect of rising temperatures on bees is mixed: cold -boiling species, such as bumble bees, suffer, while the woodworks have adapted and are doing better, IUCN added.
