The Trust has welcomed a debate on pollinators in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 14 August. However, we hope that the debate sparks action from Scottish Government to halt the decline of wild pollinators across Scotland’s landscapes.
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% 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.
Wild pollinators and honeybees provide the free service of crop pollination, which is worth at least £43million to Scotland’s economy and is essential for the production of commercial soft fruit, oilseed rape, and peas.
They are also vital for maintaining Scotland’s biodiversity because they pollinate many native wildflowers, shrubs and trees, while conserving iconic habitats such as heathland and machair which have unique biodiversity, cultural and economic value.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust believes the Scottish Government can take a number of actions to make saving pollinators a priority. There is growing evidence that neonicotinoids are incredibly harmful to bumblebee and honeybee populations. In order to stop their impact, a total ban on this group of pesticides is essential.
The Scottish Government can also help Scottish farmers grow healthy and productive crops using fewer pesticides by supporting research into low pesticide-input systems. The Trust would also like to see pollinator plans and low-input pesticide practices become a requirement to qualify for most agri-environment schemes.
Thanks to players of People's Postcode Lottery, the Scottish Wildlife Trust is supporting wild pollinators on its 120 wildlife reserves across Scotland by actively managing habitats to conserve species-rich grasslands, dune-slacks and marshland. At these sites, the Trust is helping 62 priority invertebrates to recover, such as the small blue butterfly, great yellow bumblebee and the narrow-bordered bee hawkmoth.
The Trust is demonstrating innovative ways to help rare bees that could be replicated across Scotland. A 5km ‘nectar network’ is being created along Ayrshire’s coast, from Irvine to Troon, to connect wild pollinators on the Trust’s Gailes Marsh reserve, land owned by Dundonald Links and other local businesses.
By planting appropriate wildflowers for coastal dune systems, the nectar network creates habitat and connectivity for rare butterflies, hoverflies and rare, solitary bees such as northern Colletes mining bee.
Head of Policy for Scottish Wildlife Trust, Dr Maggie Keegan, 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% 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.
“Everyone can do their bit to help these wonderful creatures recover by creating a window box and planting wildflowers in the garden, but it is vital we tackle this issue at the landscape-scale to create a ‘nectar network’ across Scotland.
“The Trust hopes this debate converts words into action from the Scottish Government.
“At the very least, the Trust would like to see the Scottish Government commit to banning harmful pesticides such as neonicotinoids outright and supporting research into pollinators and low-pesticide farming systems.”
Click here for details of the YouGov poll on the perception of environmental issues