The fate of world bee populations continues to be a concern.
It is with good reason that the concern exists since bees are the primary pollinators for most of the crops we rely on to feed the world.
For that reason alone farmers should be keenly aware of the concerns out there.
But it goes beyond the importance of bees to pollinating many farm crops, and is increasingly an issue of public image regarding the role farmers may play in terms of bee population health.
“Most Canadians (89 per cent) believe ‘pesticides’ are the most important threat to bees” at least according to a release which cited poll conducted on behalf of Friends of the Earth Canada in May by Oracle Poll Research.
Almost eight out of 10 believe the loss of suitable floral resources was important (79 per cent).
More than six out of 10 also cited other threats as important - habitat loss 68 per cent, disease 67 per cent, climate change 66 per cent, and modern intensive agriculture 65 per cent.
“Friends of the Earth believes that all these threats to bees are very important and are cause for urgent action by all concerned,” noted the release.
Depending on perspective loss of habitat, and climate change could also at least in part be attributed to farming.
It is of course unfair to lay all the issues of the health of bee populations at the feet of farming, but the sector needs to be aware what practices it employs may impact the health of key food crop pollinators.
From a farm perspective if the situation worsens, it could lead to regulations which impact current farm practices, so it is far better if those in the sector are part of the current debate, and effort to find solutions,.
The survey itself suggests Canadians in general see the issue as one worth attention.
In total, 68 per cent of all Canadians surveyed said that they were concerned or very concerned, compared to only 11 per cent not or not at all concerned, while 20 per cent had a neutral opinion (neither concerned nor unconcerned) and two per cent were unsure. Total concern was highest in Quebec (76 per cent) and BC (75 per cent), followed by Ontario (66 per cent).
While farmers might nod and suggest that is a result of largely non-farming provinces pointing a finger of concern, all three prairie provinces were over 60 per cent as well.
“We are impressed with the depth of concern for bees from Canadians across all ages and backgrounds and, that people in urban and rural settings share the same levels of concern for bees. But, we do need to help Canadians better understand the importance of wild, native bees,” said Beatrice Olivastri, CEO, Friends of the Earth Canada in the release. The release went on to note “despite high public concern, Environment Canada has not acted to protect six wild, native species recommended for protection by the scientists working as the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).
“In fact, our poll demonstrates more than enough public concern and support for the federal government to act comprehensively to protect all wild, native pollinators. We need to invest in science, policy and practical measures to protect Canada’s over 855 species of wild, native bees from pesticides, habitat loss and other big threats,” said Olivastri in the release.
Interestingly, other countries like the United States and the United Kingdom have national pollinator policies designed to protect bees. Canada does not. That is rather discouraging when you consider the overall record of the US in terms of environmental protections has not been stellar, but they are ahead of us.
