Due to excessive pesticide use there is an alarming decline in pollinators
Imagine living in a world without flowers or fruit or even coffee or chocolate for that matter. Thanks to the wonderful work of pollinators like bees, much of the food we eat and flowers and plants we enjoy are possible.
And it’s not just bees that are doing all the work. Butterflies, birds, beetles, bats, wasps and even flies are important in the pollination process. But despite the importance of pollinators, they are taken for granted all too often. Worldwide, there is an alarming decline in pollinator populations. Excessive use of pesticides and an ever-expanding conversion of landscapes to human use are the biggest culprits.
It is estimated that more than 1,300 types of plants are grown around the world for food, beverages, medicines, condiments, spices and even fabric. Of these, about 75% are pollinated by animals. More than one of every three bites of food we eat or beverages we drink are directly because of pollinators. Indirectly, pollinators ultimately play a role in the majority of what we eat and consume.
Pollinators are vital to creating and maintaining the habitats and ecosystems that many animals rely on for food and shelter. Worldwide, over half the diet of fats and oils comes from crops pollinated by animals. They facilitate the reproduction in 90% of the world’s flowering plants.
You can make a positive difference in your home environment. Provide a diverse assortment of flowering plants and encourage native species in your landscape. Use pesticides only when necessary and then only late in the day or evening. Look for alternative ways to deal with pest and disease issues before reaching for a quick fix. These often come at a price. Learn about and practice IPM (Integrated Pest Management). The actions you take in and around your garden can either help reduce or promote the population of pollinators in your landscape. Hopefully it’s the latter.
About Joe Lamp'l
Joe Lamp'l is the Host and Executive Producer of the award winning PBS television series Growing A Greener World. Off camera, Joe dedicates his time to promoting sustainability through his popular books, blog, podcast series, and nationally syndicated newspaper columns. Follow Joe on Twitter
Hi Joe,
This was super helpful and informative. I am writing a research paper for my graduate class Biodiversity and the age of technology. I am focusing my masters thesis on Monarch Butterflies, how important pollinators are to our ecosystem, the rapid decline in population and ways we can help on local community levels to start. I am planning to have a community engagement piece where I include my girl scouts in the process of getting some milkweed gardens going in our community (Denver) and maybe write a kid friendly book that educates youth on the important of pollinators. I would love any resources, advice, input, anything you would be willing to offer.
Thank you again for ‘ growing a greener world’ What an important show to have 🙂
~maria
this article was very helpful in helping me complete my speech thank you.
I have done educational programs on birds and butterflys for many years and am now into the education of our native bees. I am looking to buy a dvd or get a power point program. I’m the envirnmental chair for the Muskegon, Mich. Garden Club. I sure would like your input . Thank you so much
Carol, if it helps, all the episodes that we’ve produced are available in DVD. We recently did an episode on backyard birding as well with Margaret Roach and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. You can watch it online by visiting our website. If you see something you like, email us at info@ggwtv.com and let us know.
Sir, I enjoyed your article, and found it to be very informative. I am interested in placing beehives in my yard and planting the perimeter in native flowers to promote a ‘happy home’ for my bees.
Thank you, Jil
An excellent article. Far too many people fail to realize the importance of our pollinators, and the impact they have on our life and food supply.
Growing native flowers and ceasing to use chemicals in the garden can only help them, and us too!