Bugging out
Unravelling the urgent crisis of insect extinction in the UK
According to data collected by NASA and published in Nature Climate Change journal, it is believed that 65% of our known insect populations could be going extinct within the next century. Causes include climate change and drastic changes in temperature. With climate change and sustainability continuously growing in importance, many potential solutions, causes and effects have been circulating in conversation about this topic. From moving away from non-renewable energy to conservation to protecting endangered species such as the African Elephant. All undeniably vital parts that need to be addressed. But what about some of the smallest critters? Often overlooked and at risk of being stamped out of existence just the same: insects.
Ubiquitous in our environment, insects seem to flutter and crawl through every crevice and bang against every window of every place you’ve ever been at. As annoying and as insignificant as they may seem, their importance in our ecosystem is vast and deserves serious attention. Their breath-taking diversity and significant role in maintaining the stability of our ecosystems make them truly indispensable to life on Earth as we know it.
"If we and the rest of the back-boned animals were to disappear overnight, the rest of the world would get on pretty well. But if the invertebrates were to disappear, the world's ecosystems would collapse"
INSECT DIVERSITY
Insects often sounds like a term that groups them into one giant clump and therefore does not do their diversity justice. Over one million different insect species have been described and discovered. Quite the whopping amount. Yet, this pales in comparison to the 10 million species that are thought to exist. If that’s not enough to make your jaw drop then listen to this. Insects are said to amount to 90% of all species and more than half of living things!
We humans due to the expanses of Earth we inhabit and nature-less living spaces globalisation is creating often fall into the mental trap that we make up most of what our planet has to offer. 1.4 billion insects for every person on Earth beg to differ. The sheer number of insects that this results in is not something easy to quantify. But here is something to hopefully provide a better mental picture. The total weight of all of these insects comes in at about 70 times that of every human being on Earth.
Now one might think this sheer quantity provides solid grounds for whacking all those pesky bugs that annoy you during your Sunday gardening session, but this article aims to provide a different perspective. Regardless of how ubiquitous all this sounds; insect numbers are actually shrinking at an alarming rate. A fact that could cause the collapse of our entire food chain. Every insect species plays a unique role in our ecosystem and as annoying or unappealing as some might seem, life without them just wouldn’t be possible.
IMPORTANCE OF INSECTS
So now we know what kind of presence insects have on our planet. But what role do they play? What actually makes them so important?
Pollination: When we think of pollination we often think only of bees and how it is responsible for the delicious honey in our cupboards. The responsibility insects carry on their little backs far outreaches this. Around 84% of European crops and most wildflowers have nature’s workforce to thank for their reproduction. Without them our entire food system would collapse.
Decomposition and nutrient cycling: Insects such as beetles, flies and ants break down dead animals and plants in our ecosystem. That statement might not make them seem like your lovable nature friends, yet it is a very important step in recycling organic material and converting it into nutrient rich soil for future life to develop.
Food source: Insects are also an important food source for many larger animals such as birds. The dwindling number and eventual extinction of insects would cause the entire food chain to break down. As stated by biological philosopher and author E.O. Wilson, “If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.” Initially there doesn’t seem to be a direct correlation but since were all part of the same food chain, even if we top the hierarchy, it will eventually have a ripple effect that will cause us to go without anything to eat.
Pest control: Now for most people mosquitoes, especially when you’re trying to sleep, can be very enraging. That high pitched buzzing sound that at some point forces you to pull out the fly swatter makes mosquitoes easy to loathe. Nature has actually developed its very own task force that battles these winged devils without you ever knowing. Predator insects such as dragonflies help control the populations of other insects that may be harmful to crops or human health.
As we can see insects have an importance in our ecosystem that cannot be understated. We often do not recognise or appreciate this simply because they work in secret and it all happens without us ever noticing any of it.
UNDERSTANDING THE CRISIS
The sheer enormity of decline in insect populations in the UK over the years is shocking to say the least. A study conducted by BugLife and Kent Wildlife Trust shows that insect numbers fell by up to 60% in the last two decades. England has experienced the greatest loss at around 65% fewer insects, while Scotland has seen a decline of 28%. These rapidly falling numbers are a definite matter of concern but these statistics underpin a far greater issue. The collapse of our ecosystem due to a loss of balance brought by our tiny friends.
The consequences of this decline are multi-dimensional. Many insects serve as important pollinators. They pollinate a vast number of crops and wild plants, therefore being an indispensable factor in a healthy and ample yield of fruits, vegetables and other crops we harvest for consumption. Over the past 50 years the reliance on animal pollination for crops has increased by 300%. The reliance is so drastic that even the UN has warned that without change this will turn into a food security issue.
Medicine and biotechnology have also been able to experience a lot of positive progress due to insects. They provide a precious source of natural compounds used in medicine. According to Prof. Dr. Andreas Vilcinskas, the Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Bioresources, “insects are the most successful life form on our planet. There are over a million species.” Yet they are not only diverse in number but also on a molecular level, which provides an abundance of active ingredients that “will also benefit medicine in the future.“ The potential for new and innovative medicine, which is a cornerstone of our modern society, could face a great setback without this abundance of resources at their disposal.
The crisis that would ensue with insect extinction cannot be understated and their loss would cause serious issues we might never be able to solve or overcome.
UNRAVELLING THE CAUSES
It cannot be denied that human activity is the cause of insect extinction. The ever-increasing intensity of land use for agriculture, urbanisation and through deforestation is quickly robbing insects of any habitable land for them to settle on.
Human trade and tourism, while great for us and our economies, has inadvertently caused a diverse range of insect and plant species to enter ecosystems in which they do not belong. These so-called invasive species can heavily disrupt the health and balance of ecosystems through heavy competition with the native species.
The use of pesticides for agriculture or private gardens is another cause. These chemicals normally designed to target specific pests can still be directly toxic to insects. They can cause death or an impairment of other functions, such as mobility, ability to feed and reproduction, that will shorten or drastically reduce their chances of survival. Pesticide residue can also stick around long after they have completed their task. They can contaminate other plants, sicker into soil and water sources. This constant exposure can also damage insects’ health.
This leads us right into the next cause: monoculture farming practises. This is a practise of growing and cultivating a singular type of crop over a very large area. Massive strips of land are transformed into a homogenised environment kept under strict control by pesticides. The reduction of plant and habitat diversity severely limits the spaces this most diverse group of species can live and reproduce. Monoculture farming also encourages the use of pesticides which can then contaminates other habitable areas.
Another trend which can be seen in many facets of human life that is squeezing the life of insects is overexploitation.
Research conducted by Dr. Florian Menzel from the Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) shows that these factors are not only bad in isolation but that they actually interact with each other too, exasperating the problem.
Menzel states, “In view of the results available to us, we learned that not just land-use intensification, global warming, and the escalating dispersal of invasive species are the main drivers of the global disappearance of insects, but also that these drivers interact with each other." An example given is that ecosystems, including their insect species, deteriorated by humans are more vulnerable to climate change. This then gives invasive species a better chance to dominate and drive out indigenous species.
BUGLIFE
The rich biodiversity we find on our planet is a vital element to maintain a healthy ecosystem and a healthy planet overall. Many organisations, such as Greenpeace and WWF, fight the battle for a good relationship between nature and humans, but not many go as deep as the organisation BugLife, also known as Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust. It is the only UK organisation that focuses on the conservation and protection of invertebrates, namely insects. A species that is often forgotten or ignored by people and mainstream media.
Link to the official BugLife website
The nature conservation charity, based in the UK, has conservation efforts that extend across the over 40,000 insect species in the UK alone. Yet, despite these efforts, many species are experiencing rapid population declines and many more even the threat of extinction. Without meaningful change it is estimated that around 150,000 species worldwide could be lost by 2050.
BugLife’s mission is grounded in deep respect for the function that insects play in our ecosystem. These creatures form the backbone of many processes, many of which directly affect humans. Their decline, unknown to most, is a narrative they are intent on changing.
BugLife’s work revolves around these 5 pillars, a multifaceted approach taken directly from their website:
- “Promoting the environmental importance of invertebrates and raising awareness about the challenges to their survival.
- Assisting in the development of legislation and policy that will ensure the conservation of invertebrates.
- Developing and disseminating knowledge about how to conserve invertebrates.
- Encouraging and supporting invertebrate conservation initiatives by other organisations in the UK, Europe and worldwide.
- Undertaking practical conservation projects that will contribute to achieving our aim.”
Notable campaigns include the “No Insectinction”. This campaign is a call for action aimed at getting people and organisations together with the shared goal of “healing our planets life support systems”. According to the campaign this can only be achieved if we: 1. make room for insects to thrive, 2. create safe spaces by removing pollutants and invasive species, and 3. develop a friendlier and more understanding relationship towards insects.
An important project led by BugLife is the “B-lines” project. The mission here is to restore wildflower rich habitats. 97% of flower-rich grasslands have been lost across England since the 1930s. This has been a serious blow to wildlife by reducing pollen and nectar sources for pollinators. To combat this the organisation is developing a series of insect pathways throughout the countryside and towns, along which wildflower habitats are restored. This is meant to link various habitats together and create a larger network of spaces for pollinators to access.
BugLifes website also hosts a series of resources to help engage people in the intricate tapestry of insect species. For instance, people can use the “Bug Directory” or the “Identify a Bug” questionnaire to help better understand the invertebrates they see crawling or fluttering around.
In order to cultivate an even better understanding of the state of insect extinction and the work conducted by BugLife we interviewed Paul Hetherington, the Director of Fundraising & Communications. Repping a “I love the Beetles” t-shirt during the interview we could instantly see that his love for insects goes far beyond his job description. Paul has been actively engaged in raising awareness and gathering the resources BugLife needs in order to continue its indispensable work. Paul will pop in throughout the article to enrich and advance our understanding of insect extinction with unique insights from within the organisation.
THE BUGS MATTER CITIZEN SCIENCE SURVEY
The Bugs Matter Citizen Science Survey conducted in 2022 was a research project launched jointly by BugLife and Kent Wildlife Trust. This study, which is the second of its kind, aimed to develop a better understanding of the state of insect populations in the UK.
As mentioned by Paul Hetherington, “there is very little data on insect abundance in the UK”. There have been studies in the past that focus on insect abundance, such as the Rothamstead Insect Survey of aphids and larger moths (since 1964) or the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (since 1976). Yet the issue with these very targeted studies is they do not provide a holistic data set for all insects and any inferences drawn would most likely be skewed.
The Bugs Matter survey is a significant step into large scale monitoring of insects. The data gathered was compared to a baseline data set from 2004, which was conducted using the same sampling methods and led by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds).
This survey took place between the 1st of June and the 31st of August 2021 and 2022. The unique aspect is that it employed a highly community driven approach to make sampling at this scale a possibility. People who wished to participate downloaded the Bugs Matter mobile app and where then sent a standardised sampling grid, simply termed a “splatometer”. This was essentially a piece of cardboard with a sticky front side that was attached to the number plate on the participants cars. The splatometer would then start to collect bugs as the vehicle travelled. After a journey the number of insects stuck within the sampling box were recorded and submitted alongside a picture of the splatometer. Citizens were also asked not to take journeys simply to gather data but only record data on essential journeys.
These types of surveys are vital to expand our understanding of how insect populations are developing over time. This allows conservation efforts to be focuses on what is most important and therefore use resources and time in a more efficient manner. By engaging the wider public BugLife has made use of an important and otherwise untapped resource: citizen science. They have created an easy and conceivable way to allow the public to aid in these efforts and compile data on a scale that would otherwise never be possible. All the while increasing awareness of the issue at hand.
The Bugs Matter Citizen Science Survey shows how people who are generally not involved in these types of efforts can make a massive difference and start to understand and care for the irreplicable ecosystem they are losing.
The good news is that this survey will continue every year! So, if you are interested and want to help out then download the app below!
2023 participation and app link
THE 2022 BUGS MATTER REPORT
The data collected through the app was then statistically analysed so as to draw conclusions and uncover the trend in insect abundance over the years.
The focus of this research project was the number of insect "splats" or impacts with the splatometer mounted on the number plate. Of course, there were no splats recorded in many of the trips made by the participants. This makes statistical analysis a little more difficult. This is due to the random variation between a true zero, which means that no insects were actually present during the journey, and an excess zero, which was a coincidence. This means that there were insects, but none of them happened to hit the number plate. To solve this problem, the researchers used a method called the Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) model. It sounds complicated, but it is essentially a two-step process that first checks whether or not a drive resulted in splats and then examines how many there were if it did.
Once the model had been carried out, the next step for the researchers was to understand the information it produced. An important calculation they received was incidence ratios. Which are basically an analysis of how the amount of splats are expected to shift when one of the factors, such as vehicle speed, changes while everything else remains the same. An example would be, “with every 5mph increase in speed the number of insect splats is expected to rise by 4%”. Predictions for the quantity of splats in a number of different situations, such as the type of car driven, were made.
The results of the study show a severe downwards trend in bug splats compared to 2004. The number went down by 22.1% in 2019, 58.4% in 2021, and 63.7% in 2022. Even when accounting for excess zero, fewer and fewer bugs are hitting number plates. Interestingly, the study also revealed that just between 2021 and 2022 the count fell by 12.6%. Even in the span of one short year, when compared to 2004, insect numbers were still decreasing.
Credit: BugLife – Bugs Matter Survey 2022. A boxplot showing the reduction in splat rates between 2004-2022.
Credit: BugLife – Bugs Matter Survey 2022. A boxplot showing the reduction in splat rates between 2004-2022.
Another important statistical element are confidence intervals and it helps understand the precision of an estimate. Researchers working on this project are 95% confident that the splat reduction from 2004 to 2022 sits somewhere between 61.5% and 65.8%.
Researchers also calculated the average number of insect counts in different years. The baseline year of 2004 would have 7.4 splats per trip, whereas 2019, 2021 and 2022 would have 5.2, 3.2 and 2.7 respectively.
Even though the data shows that the number of bug splats on number plates has decreased over the years, we cannot conclusively decide that this means the total number of insects in the UK are decreasing in the same way or at the same pace. There are a range of reasons as to why the two may differ. Some include, the area in which the data was gathered, weather conditions and time of day and year. These results give us a good insight into the fact that insect numbers are dwindling but to understand how this relates to total number of insect abundance needs more extensive research that can factor in conditions such as pesticide use, changes in land use and the impact of temperature. Yet, the study has shown that the splat count per decade, which sits at -35.4%, is a lot higher than any studies conducted before.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND AWARENESS
Climate change and sustainability are topics that are often at the forefront of political discussion and media coverage. Rightfully so as both are crucial themes that need to be discussed and tackled. Yet most talks about insect extinction usually take place in separation to these topics even when the two are so indivisibly linked.
Insects for one play a major role in climate regulation. Certain insects that play a part in decomposition and nutrient cycling aid in sequestering carbon through these processes. If insect numbers dwindle or insects go extinct then these processes will no longer work effectively. This could disrupt the amount of carbon that is sequestered and stored. As mentioned, lower numbers of insects can also disrupt the populations of other animals, which therefore has the potential of further increasing carbon emissions if these animals also help in storing it.
Many insects also experience a high level of susceptivity to temperature and or precipitation related changes in the environment. Insects generally do not respond well to a lot of prompt variation in climatic conditions. Insects are ectothermic, which means that their body temperature depends on the temperature of their external environment. If this environment experiences a lot of temperature changes so will the insect internally. Continuous and inconsistent fluctuations in their metabolic rates mean they cannot performs their tasks at optimal levels. A rise in extreme weather conditions, such as thunderstorms, also threatens their chance of survival.
Besides climate change being a direct threat to insects, their declining numbers can also be conducive to it. For example, reduced numbers of pollinators are as we know harmful to how well plants are able to reproduce and multiply. Lower plant levels would result in lower carbon uptake. Meaning that more and more carbon would be released back into the environment instead of being stored.
Despite the pivotal importance of insect extinction, and also its links to climate change, these topics do not receive the exposure and awareness that would do them justice. This can be down to several reasons:
1. The public is just not aware of the issues at hand and also maybe not as interested. This could, in part, be due to the appearance of insects. Paul from BugLife makes an interesting point about this. He says, “The unfortunate thing about insects is that they are a bit alien looking and people find them a bit frightening”. This is something he also believes stems from our literature and stories where insects and spiders usually get a pretty bad reputation. Examples of this include “The Mist” by Stephen King, where people end up trapped in a grocery store by a thick mist and are continuously attacked by scary creatures including flying-insects and “Grasshopper Jungle” by Andrew Smith, which writes about a small town plagued by a virus that transforms people into huge praying mantises that cause havoc and wide spread fear. So, as we can see, insects have a bad image in many narratives, which may have led to people not valuing them as much as other endangered creatures that look a bit cuter, or trying to understand them so openly.
2. Climate change is a topic that is discussed heavily in mainstream media and has found a lot of support from citizens, yet mainstream media coverage specifically focusing on insects is more of a rare occurrence. For example, The Guardian did write an article titled, “Plummeting insect numbers 'threaten collapse of nature’” that focuses on insect decline, yet it was published in 2019 and is therefore 4 years old. Given the fast-paced world of media, this article is long forgotten by the public. Along a similar vein as point one, media outlets often tend to prefer topics that attract more attention and engagement from its readers. Writing about how the ice is shrinking beneath polar bears paws will normally attract more attention than a dung beetle decomposing organic material.
3. The complexity and scientific knowledge needed to understand and properly comprehend insect extinction could be another factor. Seeing that the topic does not actively and heavily circulate in mainstream media, the responsibility of developing a more widespread understanding falls on researchers and conservation organisations that conduct studies. As we could see from the Bugs Matter Report results earlier, the material is very rich in information that requires fundamental understanding or even expertise in fields such as statistics. These complexities could limit public exposure and understanding of insect extinction.
4. A lacking sense of urgency can also impact public awareness. Issues such as water scarcity and water/air pollution pose a more direct and immediate threat to our civilisation. Insect extinction, even though it will cause our entire ecosystem to crumble if it were come to pass, is not a threat that is perceived an issue right now. Human health is already affected by scarcity and pollution and in the interest of self-preservation they will take precedence.
Ways to capture public interest must be studied and employed in order for people to understand its importance, urgency and looming threat.
VIRAL TIKTOK POEM
Speaking of raising awareness, disseminating facts and figures about the seriousness of the situation is an essential part of raising people's awareness and understanding of the problem at hand. Climate change, species extinction and other developments are all things people who aren’t researching these specific topics will not know or come across without studies and media outlets to inform them. Yet an issue many researchers and campaigners face, is that a simple logical appeal does not result in a lot of interest or “buzz” around the topic. Many studies and research projects are very lengthy and complex to understand. Unless looked up with intent, people that might stumble across them will often not take the time to read and try and comprehend the research. Understandably so, many studies are not engaging to those not already actively interested. Therefore, an emotional appeal is needed to spread the word and get people to take time out of their days to pay attention and better yet fight for the cause. And getting people, some of which probably consider bugs an annoying pest, to feel warmth and compassion towards insects is very challenging or simply a stroke of luck.
For example, the viral TikTok trend “Ten Legs, Eight Broken” has taken the platform by storm and has tugged at every user’s heart strings. The trend revolves around a poem by @user68519586 (aka “I, e”), which is written from the perspective of a spider. The poem begins from the perspective of the human narrator addressing the spider and expressing absolute contempt for it. It then moves to the spider’s perspective. What follows is an immensely moving piece that has made many people reconsider their blatant hate or disregard for spider/insect life.
The poem has caused reactions, reposts and remakes to flood TikTok and amassed over six million views. Users have posted TikTok’s giving others an emotional disclaimer and posting themselves saving an insect with the poem blended in to the video. An example comes from a user named @lebeanlily who posted a TikTok captioned “I’m never killing a spider ever again”.
How a captivating, yet simple, poem could engage and cause an emotional reaction in so many people is absolutely fascinating. “I, e” was inspired by a similar poem by @writerandweeper who has spawned a similar reaction.
Examples like this are sound proof that emotional appeal is needed to instigate change, get people to listen and most importantly, to care. A simple logical explanation will not cut it. Otherwise, research studies and academic papers would be surging through TikTok and across people’s screens.
“If I am killed for simply living, let death be kinder than man.”
Poem by @user68519586
Poem by @writerandweeper
TikTok by @faiimariie showing her handling a spider and expressing gratitude for the "Ten Legs, Eight Broken" poem.
On top of not killing insects that enter your house or flat and rather setting them outside or leaving them be, there are a few other simple ways one can make a positive difference for bug's wellbeing.
Paul explains the ways an individual, without much effort or time, can really help create a good environment for insects.
Credit: William Clark
ACTION FROM GOVERNMENT
An important element in pursuit of meaningful change is meaningful engagement from government. The UK government has shown some understanding and determination to prevent the extinction of insects.
The governments National Pollinator Strategy (NPS) is a pivotal element that needs to be acknowledged. This is a 10-year plan first published in 2014 but updated in 2019 by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The document contains specific guidelines and plans to allow government, researchers, industry and conservation groups to works towards a healthier future for insects in England.
The document sets out 5 specific areas in which it wishes to succeed:
1. Supporting pollinators on agricultural land
2. Supporting pollinators in urban and rural areas
3. Responding better to pest and disease risks
4. Raising awareness of what pollinators need to survive and thrive
5. Better understanding of the status of pollinators and the services they provide.
Each goal contains a number of bullet points that explains specifically how they will be met. This document is also accompanied by the National Pollinator Strategy Action Plan which includes more specific guidelines to achieve the plan stipulated for the period 2021 to 2024.
The UK government has also developed a campaign called “Bees’ Needs Week” which runs from the 10th to the 16th of July every year. Organised by DEFRA this event is run alongside charities, businesses, conservation groups and academic institutions to raise awareness of bees and other pollinators. St. James Park, for example, hosted an event that gave citizens the opportunity to participate in the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (PoMS).
The PoMS, funded by DEFRA, is another interesting scheme that employs citizen science. Launched in 2017 it is the first scheme worldwide that collects and processes data on pollinators on a national scale. Citizens have two options to choose from if they wish to get involved. The first, and less time consuming one, is the ten-minute count and as the name suggest you will be asked to spend 10 minutes watching pollinators, such as bees, fly to and from a patch of flowers. The patch should span 50 cm by 50 cm. This can be done at any place of your choosing that contains the targeted flower species listed in the instructions. All the required data can then be submitted via an app or using paper forms that are then submitted via the website. The count can be carried out in good weather conditions and during daylight hours from the 1st of April to the 30th of September 2023.
The second choice is a bit more time intensive. It is called the 1km square survey, which used pan-traps to catch insects in 95 traps spread around the UK. With the permission of the land owners, this allows PoMS to collect valuable data on insect numbers and diversity. Volunteers “adopt” a square and check on it four times a year in May, June, July and August. So, if you live close to a square depicted on the map you can find here and are interested in volunteering, then contact PoMS via this link.
The UK government under the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also published an Environmental Improvement Plan for 2023 which discusses policy considerations, regulations and financial aid to halt the decline of biodiversity. Even though this document does not have a dedicated section towards insect extinction the topics and proposed actions should if properly implemented provide ample benefit to insects nonetheless.
This plan was first published 5 years ago and titled 25 Year Environment Plan (25YEP). This document set out the vision for a quarter of a century in order to help replenish and restore the natural world to a state of balance. The Environment Act 2021 set into law that this plan must be reviewed and updated every 5 years so as to avoid stipulations and goals to be left untracked.
The plan sets out ten goals:
Credit: Crown copyright, 2023
Credit: Crown copyright, 2023
As is shown in the diagram, nine of the ten goals are set out to help achieve the apex goal of the plan.
With plans such as these it always begs the question as to whether any real change is happening and actual action is taken. Is this plan purely political showmanship or does it hold any merit?
Looking back at past success stories and forward towards enacted plans show that it does to a certain extent:
- Wildlife habitats the size of Dorset, which is 2.653 km2, have been created and restored
- £750 million have been invested in reforestation and peatland restoration through the Climate Protection Fund which was launched by Prime Minster Rishi Sunak
- A reward system has been developed for farmers that incentivises the hedgerows for wildlife, nectar rich wildflowers and pest management that forgoes the usage of insecticides
- A specific Species Survival Fund has also been introduced to better protect our habitats for the animals that inhabit them
- Transform and protect 70% of our land by adopting nature friendly farming practises
These actions show that the UK government recognises the importance of insect conservation, but the complexity of the issue requires continued effort and collaboration from multiple stakeholders. Government collaboration with non-governmental organisations and research institutions are crucial to develop successful strategies and measures to counteract the loss of our insect species. Public awareness, engagement and accountability are also necessary in order to ensure goals are met and set correctly.
SOLUTIONS AND ACTION
Organisations such as BugLife and their “B-Line” initiative aimed at creating “wildflower motorways” across the UK and meeting passionate individuals such as Paul Hetherington show where the true power to instigate change lies; in people that do so not for political or financial gain but simply out of love for the planet and the tiny critters that form the very backbone of life as we know it.
The issue here is that conservation initiatives and passionate people outside of the political realm of influence do not hold enough power to lead the change. Systemic policy changes are needed. Regulatory reforms such as the National Pollinator Strategy and the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 show positive progress but nonetheless more must be done.
Yet the issue on a political level stem from the range of influences that can act against passionate change. Economic benefits of conservation are often long term, so much so that most people might not even reap any of the rewards or see the change in their life time. Meanwhile all of the costs are immediate and finding solutions to the unemployment of people that work in harmful industries will also be tricky and cost intensive.
The electoral cycle presents yet another hurdle. General elections in the UK usually take place every 5 years. Long-term benefits from conservation might not seem as attractive as short-term goals that can more easily bolster a politician’s reputation. And setting up an entire plan that could be completely overhauled if one is not re-elected might also not prove lucrative enough for some.
Governments, even if passion for conservation exists, have to balance a lot of often competing interests. Many of which are also made more pressing by powerful lobbies. Even though serious concern and focus on conservation on a political level is absolutely crucial, it seems rather challenging for that to happen if these other factors that challenge that aren’t addressed accordingly.
At an individual level much can be done to help. From planting insect-friendly gardens with native plants and wildflowers, to following Paul's advice and putting herb boxes in flats, to reducing the use of pesticides in our daily lives. There are countless simple and easy-to-implement ways to provide support. Participating in Citizen Science projects such as the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme and the Bugs Matter Survey can also help in tracking and understanding insect populations.
Even if individual action will not solve the issue of insect extinction, as we are not the primary agents causing most of the issues, any aid will still be of great help on a local level. Public awareness and engagement will also encourage this topic to pop up more in conversation and spread in importance with the hope that others will end up adopting a sense of passion for our tiny titans too. More passion equals more pressure on government to instigate meaningful change.
In summary, the dwindling number of insects in the UK is a matter that deserves more of a presence in political discussion. Immediate attention and collective action are paramount. Our ecosystems and human society rests on the shoulders of these tiny giants. We need to recognise their right to and indispensability for life. We as a society must face this challenge, raise awareness in ways that tugs at people’s heartstrings and work with/hold policy makers accountable. We must strive to restore our buzzing landscapes, because their survival and our future are inextricably linked. Ecological improvement is a long-term goal, yet that should not stop us from actions today in order to make this a reality for the future.
Credit: William Clark, Canva
Credit: William Clark, Canva
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