ONU / IPBES – Experts warn that pollinator species, essential for maintaining the world's food supply of food, are declining and are seriously threatened

Experts warn that pollinator species, essential for maintaining the world's food supply of food, are declining and are seriously threatened

Detailed information on the first global assessment of options for pollinator protection

Kuala Lumpur - 26 February 2016

According to the first global assessment on pollinators, an increasing number of pollinator species around the world are in danger of extinction as a result of various pressures - many of them of human origin - threatening the livelihoods of millions of people and represents hundreds of billions of dollars of lost food supplies.

Nevertheless, the evaluation, which is the result of a two-year study carried out by the Intergovernmental Scientific-normative Platform on Biological Diversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) - released today - also highlights several ways to effectively protect pollinator populations..

The evaluation entitled “Thematic evaluation on pollinators, Pollination and Food Production ”is the first of its kind published by the Platform and constitutes an innovative effort to understand and more effectively manage an essential element of the global ecosystem. It is also the first assessment of its kind to draw on available scientific knowledge and indigenous and local knowledge systems..

The Platform was founded four years ago, it's integrated by 124 member countries and aims to establish an interface between international scientific knowledge and the formulation of public policies.

Pollinators are important from an economic and social point of view

Pollinators make a significant contribution to global food production and nutritional security, said Dr.. Vera Lucia da Fonseca, Professor at the University of São Paulo and Co-chair of the evaluation, and added that their health is directly linked to our own well-being.

Pollinated crops include those that provide fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts and oils. Many of these crops are important dietary sources of vitamins and minerals, without which the risks of malnutrition would increase. Various crops are also an important source of income in developing countries, for example, the production of coffee and cocoa.

Without polarizers, many of us may no longer be able to enjoy chocolate., coffee and apples, just to mention some foods that are part of our daily lives, said Dr.. Simon Potts, the other Co-chair of the evaluation and Professor of Biological Diversity and Ecosystem Services of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Reading Policy and Development (United Kingdom).

The volume of agricultural production that depends on zoopollination has increased by 300% during the last 50 years, However, crops that depend on pollinators show less growth and stability of crop yields than those that do not depend on them.

Various factors that affect pollinators

The evaluation determined that, according to the estimates made, the 16% of vertebrate pollinators are threatened with extinction globally - percentage increasing to 30% in the case of island species - and there was a trend towards a greater number of species threatened with extinction.

Although most pollinating insects were not included in the global assessment, regional and national assessments carried out indicate the existence of a serious threat, particularly for bees and butterflies, and that often more than 40% of invertebrate species are locally threatened.

Sir Robert Watson, Vice President of the Platform, noted that in certain regions wild pollinators, especially bees and butterflies, are threatened by various factors. The decline in their populations is mainly due to changes in land use, intensive agricultural practices and use of pesticides, invasive alien species, pathogens and climate change, added.

In northwestern Europe and North America, a decline in wild pollinator populations has been confirmed at the regional level. Although in other parts of the world cases of decline of local populations were observed, the data available are too sparse to draw general conclusions.

New evidence from a field study in Sweden shows that the use of a neonicotinoid insecticide has a negative effect on the reproduction of wild bees, but no effects were detected in honey bee colonies.

Pests and diseases pose a serious threat to managed bees, but risk can be reduced through better disease detection and management, as well as regulations relating to the trade and movement of bees.

Genetically modified crops are generally herbicide tolerant or resistant to insect pests. In the first case they reduce the appearance of weeds, which are a source of food supply for pollinators. And in the second, fewer insecticides are usually needed, which translates into less pressure on beneficial insects., including pollinators. Nevertheless, the sublethal and indirect effects of genetically modified crops on various pollinators are not well understood.

There are numerous options to protect pollinators

The good news is that a number of measures can be taken to reduce the risks to which pollinators are exposed, and harnessing indigenous and local knowledge is important in this regard, said Mr.. Zakri Abdul Hamid, Founding President of IPBES since his election at the first meeting of the Platform in 2012.

These measures include promoting sustainable agriculture, which helps diversify the agricultural landscape and uses ecological processes for food production.

The following should be mentioned as specific options:

• Plant strips or patches of wildflowers, and maintain or create greater diversity of habitats for pollinators at the landscape scale;
• Reduce the exposure of pollinators to pesticides by making less use of these, seeking alternative forms of pest control and adopting a variety of specific application practices, These include technologies to reduce the spread of pesticides; Y
• Improve managed honey bee rearing to control pathogens, along with better regulation of trade and the use of commercial pollinators.Other conclusions

•  A great diversity of wild pollinators contributes to greater stability in pollination, even when there is a high number of managed bees.
• Some non-food crops also depend on pollinators. These are a source of biofuels in the form of rapeseed oil, cotton fibers, medicines, wood and products of cultural importance.
• The western honey bee is the most widely distributed managed pollinator in the world and produces approximately 1,6 million tons of honey.

•  Crop yield depends on wild and managed species.
• In the last 50 years the number of hives has increased worldwide, but there has been a decline in hives in many countries in Europe and North America.
• Climate change has caused changes in the distribution of large numbers of pollinating bumblebees and butterflies. The IPBES assessment has critically appraised the vast body of knowledge about pollinators, pollination and food production to ensure that decision makers have access to the highest possible quality information. The assessment was compiled by a team of 77 experts.Quotes from supporting organizationsThe growing threat to pollinators, that play an important role in food safety, is another compelling example of how connected people are to our environment and how deeply our destiny is intertwined with that of nature. In our efforts to achieve food security, it is important to address the challenges taking into account the environmental effects that determine this issue. Sustainable development, including improving the food security of the world's population, requires an approach that is very sensitive to the environment.– Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)Pollination services are an “agricultural contribution” that guarantees the production of crops. All farmers, especially small farmers and farm families around the world, benefit from these services. Increasing the density and diversity of pollinators will have direct positive effects on crop yields and this will translate into greater food and nutrition security. Thus, Improving pollinator services is important both for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and for helping farming families adapt to climate change. - José Graziano da Silva, Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

  The complex and interrelated challenges we face today in development require that decision-making processes be scientifically sound and take into account indigenous and local knowledge. Applying scientific knowledge in areas such as pollination will enable better-informed decisions that will protect ecosystem services that are important for food security and poverty eradication.

UNDP actively contributes to promoting dialogue among scientists, policy makers and practitioners on this and related topics, supporting countries in the task of putting the Agenda into practice 2030 for Sustainable Development. - Nik Sekhran, Director / Head of Profession, Sustainable development, Policy and Program Support Directorate, United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

About IPBES

The Intergovernmental Scientific-normative Platform on Biological Diversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is a similar entity to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The Platform was established in April 2012 as an independent intergovernmental body charged with assessing the state of the planet's biological diversity, their ecosystems and essential services they provide to society. Participation in the Platform is open to all Member States of the United Nations and currently has 124 members.

The evaluations carried out by the Platform provide independent and scientifically credible information to policymakers to make informed decisions on how to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services. They also present methods for interpreting the findings and reflecting the complex relationships between biological diversity., ecosystem services and people. Although the Platform's evaluations present various policy options, they do not make such recommendations.

IPBES assessments are conducted by renowned experts who synthesize, they examine, assess and critically assess relevant information and knowledge generated worldwide by governments, academic circles, scientific organizations, non-governmental organizations and indigenous and local communities. The IPBES experts, that belong to organizations, institutions and the private sector around the world, volunteer their time and are selected on the basis of nominations submitted by governments and interested organizations. There are currently around 1.000 experts from all regions of the world contributing to the work of the Platform.

The Platform is supported by a Bonn-based secretariat (Germany) to carry out its work and operates under the auspices of four United Nations organizations and programs: the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP); the United Nations Educational Organization, Science and Culture (UNESCO); the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Development Organization (UNDP).

Contact with the media:

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Malaysian Media Contact: Nik Sufini Nik Mohamed sufini@might.org.my

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Four examples of food crops that depend on pollinators, and its financial value

Combined total value of crops globally: 71.500 million dollars per year

Chocolate (cocoa beans)
Dependence: essential
Crop value worldwide: 5.700 million dollars per year Pollinator: mosquito cecidomido, ceratopogonid mosquito

Apples
Dependence: Great dependency
Combined total value of crops globally: 33.500 million dollars per year Pollinator: Mellifera bee (Apis mellifera), Asian honey bee (A. cerana), mining bee (Andrena spp.), bumblebee (Bombus Bee), japanese bee (Osmia cornifrons)

Mangos
Dependence: Great dependency
Combined total value of crops globally: 14,800 million dollars per year Pollinator: Honey bee (Apis sp.), stingless bees (Trigona sp.), flies, ants, wasps

Almonds
Dependence: Great dependency
Combined total value of crops globally: 3,500 million dollars per year Pollinator: Honey bee (Apis mellifera), bumblebee (Bombus impatiens), japanese bee (Osmia cornifrons)