https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y8p4zglpyo
"A wildlife charity has declared a national “butterfly emergency” after its
annual Big Butterfly Count recorded its lowest ever numbers.
The count has been running for 14 years. This year’s poor results are partly
down to the wet weather but the long-term trend is hugely concerning, says
Butterfly Conservation.
It is calling on the government to ban pesticides that can harm butterflies and
bees “before it’s too late”.
Butterflies are at “their lowest ebb” on the back of 50 years of decline, said
the charity's head of science, Dr Richard Fox.
“Butterflies are a key indicator species; when they are in trouble we know that
the wider environment is in trouble too,” he said.
Neonicotinoid pesticides were banned in the UK in 2018 but have been approved
four times in a row in emergencies to tackle a virus that attacks sugar beet.
A spokesperson from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs said
it was “committed to deliver for nature and will change existing policies,
including banning the use of those neonicotinoid pesticides that threaten vital
pollinators” - but has given no time scales for doing so.
The Nature Friendly Farming Network, which represents farmers working to
improve nature, called for support for farmers and consumers wanting to step
away from such products."
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
