France Is The First Country To Ban All Five Bee-Killing Pesticides
Most people might not be really that
informed about how bees help humans and the environment. Bees are one of the
insects that assist the pollination process. Pollination is how insects such as
bees and butterflies transfer pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to
the female stigma which leads to fertilization resulting to the production of a
new seed.
Bees are pollinators that aid in
spreading grains not only of wild flowers but of the many plants that are eaten
by people. There are many kinds of bees such as bumble and honey. While most of
them are generalists, there are distinct kind of bees which only transfer
specific types of pollen grains. A hundred reasons might be there on why these
insects should not be harmed but it will take a lot of time to discuss it in
one go. The only important thing is that people understand how the existence of
these pollinators are crucial in environmental sustainability.
The unexplainable global
disappearance of bees has been observed as early as 1990’s. Reports showed that
the most probable cause are pesticides though climate change is also
considered. In Europe alone, the decrease in the number of bee colonies in few
member states has been reported to be more than 50%. This is the main reason
why the environment and bee advocates raised their concern on how this
situation could be controlled.
France was the
first country which took the first huge step to control the situation. The
country initiated a move to ban five kinds of pesticides which, according to
research, are the main causes of the extinction of bees. These pesticides are
known as neonicotinoids, a water soluble nicotine related insecticide that
blocks specific insect neurons causing them to die.
The move
received negative feedback's from farmers who are greatly affected by the
pesticide ban. They claim that the evidences showing neonicotinoids as the
cause of the plummeting population of bees are not sufficient. However, others
trust that the pesticides should be continuously prohibited.
At present,
the ban has expanded in sixteen countries including Germany and the United
Kingdom. The ban poses negative threats such as the replacement of seed
treatments which are much more dangerous to insects that pollinate and the
going out of business of agriculturist who cannot afford to buy pesticides that
are sprayed.
The ban in
bee-killing pesticides may have been a big help in controlling the dwindling
pollinator population but other factors should be considered as the extinction
of flower varieties and nesting homes.
In August
2018, the Canadian federal government took its first move in banning
neonicotinoids as well. The announcement regarding the discontinuance of the
aforementioned based pesticides within three years was delivered by the Pest
Management Regulatory Agency of Canada. This was because of the high honey bee
death rates that was linked to the use of the said chemical.
Many environmental advocates were
delighted to witness the event though they believe that the ban must be
completed in a shorter time period. Like in Europe, farmers and producers
contradicted the decision saying that the results are debatable.
Sources:
France Is The First Country To Ban All Five Bee-Killing Pesticides
Reviewed by Joe
on
July 04, 2019
Rating:
Reviewed by Joe
on
July 04, 2019
Rating:
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