Scottish Wildlife Trust hopes debate will spark action from Scottish Government
SNP MSP Angus MacDonald has called for action to "reduce pesticides that harm pollinators and conserve pollinator species, while maintaining places for pollinators to feed and breed."
The call has been welcomed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, who hope the discussion will spark action from Scottish Government to halt the decline of wild pollinators across Scotland's landscapes.
In a statement, The Scottish Wildlife Trust said: "The main threats to wild pollinators, such as bumblebees, hoverflies and butterflies, come from a combination of factors such as agricultural intensification, habitat loss, and use of pesticides such as neonicotinoids.
"Research shows that bumblebees have suffered a 60 per cent decline in the last 50 years, with species such as the great yellow bumblebee becoming rarer and confined to the north and west of Scotland. Alarmingly, specialist butterflies such as the beautiful marsh fritillary and the pearl bordered fritillary have also dwindled in numbers."
The call for action backs a campaign from Buglife, who actively work to conserve the 40,000 invertebrate species in the United Kingdom - many of which are under threat as never before. The organisation estimates that 84 per cent of EU crops rely on insect pollination to carry pollen from one flower to another.
During a debate in Scottish Parliament, Macdonald argued: "Insect-pollinated fruits and vegetables that are grown in Scotland contribute significantly to our economy as well as to our ecosystem. For example, the output value of vegetables in 2012 was £102 million, and the figure for fruits was £62 million. In addition, the pollination that is provided by insect pollinators to wildflowers and garden ornamentals makes insect pollinators a vital component of our great biodiversity in Scotland. Without pollinators, we could see a depletion of the foods that we grow and the beauty that we see in our wider countryside."
Dr Maggie Keegan, head of policy for Scottish Wildlife Trust said: "The debate on pollinators is extremely timely and reflects the public's increasing concern over the plight of bumblebees and honeybees. A recent YouGov poll showed that 85 per cent of the British public see the reduction of bees as the most serious environmental issue - even more serious than climate change.
"The Trust believes the decline in wild pollinators and honeybees may act like the 'canary in the mine' - indicating that Scotland's landscapes and ecosystems are not being managed sustainably."
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