One third of our 98 bee species are threatened with extinction.
That startling statistic has led to numerous government and non-government organisations coming together on the island of Ireland to address the problem.
Bees are declining because we have drastically reduced the areas where they can nest and the amount of food our landscape provides for them.
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Beekeepers at work on their hives in Killinchy. What will the future hold in store for local bees?[/caption]
The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2015-2020 is the first European cross–border pollinator initiative which provides a strategy to address the decline in our precious pollinators.
Welcoming the publication, Environment Minister Mark H Durkan, whose department helped produce the Plan, said: “I am very worried about the decline of any of our native species. One third of our bee population threatened with extinction is a startling statistic.
“It is important therefore that my department has been involved in developing this Plan. We very much support this call to action to make Ireland pollinator friendly. In coming together to protect pollinators, we will also protect the livelihood of farmers and growers who rely on their free pollinator service, as well as improving the general health of our environment. This voluntary call for action has received overwhelming support and signifies the importance of the Plan.”
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Wild flower are a great source of food for bees. Why not set aside a place in your garden for bee friendly plants.[/caption]
The Plan identifies actions that can be taken on farmland, public land and private land. These include creating “pollinator highways” along our transport routes, making our public parks pollinator friendly and encouraging the public to see their gardens as potential pit-stops for our busy bees.
Minister Durkan added: “A key element in the plan is the need to raise awareness about how to protect pollinators. Eco-Schools, which we fund, is raising awareness among our young people. Everyone can play a role though, be it farmers, gardeners, businesses, and government.”
A Pollinator Plan information pack including photographs and infographics: www.biodiversityireland.ie/pollinator-plan
Some key facts:
* One third of our 98 bee species are threatened with extinction in Ireland; * Declines in wildflowers are subjecting our pollinators to starvation; * Our tendency to tidy up the landscape rather than allowing wildflowers to grow along roadsides, field margins, and in parks and gardens is playing a big part in reducing these resources for bees.
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