Happy Sunday everyone... hope it is a good day for you,
I ran across an important report today on a topic I've been worrying about for several years now: declining bee populations - especially honeybees - through something called Colony Collapse disorder. Having it reach the level of a report of the United Nations Environment Program reinforces that all us home gardeners have to keep gardening ... and all us local activists have to keep "activating". The words I've quoted below from UNEP's executive director are a really serious statement from someone at his level. I guess I'll be on to sending the report to various government agriculture ministers and shadow cabinet people. I'll post addresses as I get to that over the next few days.
Global Bee Colony Disorders and other Threats to Insect Pollinators is the title of the newest report of the United Nations Environment Program - March 10, 2011
"More than a dozen factors, ranging from declines in flowering plants and the use of memory-damaging insecticides to the world-wide spread of pests and air pollution, may be behind the emerging decline of bee colonies across many parts of the globe. Scientists are warning that without profound changes to the way human-beings manage the planet, declines in pollinators needed to feed a growing global population are likely to continue. Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director, said: 'The way humanity manages or mismanages its nature-based assets, including pollinators, will in part define our collective future in the 21st century... Human beings have fabricated the illusion that in the 21st century they have the technological prowess to be independent of nature. Bees underline the reality that we are more, not less dependent on nature's services in a world of close to seven billion people.'"
The full report can be downloaded at: http://www.unep.org/dewa/Portals/67/pdf/Global_Bee_Colony_Disorder_and_Threats_insect_pollinators.pdf
Those of us who garden in private gardens and in shared and community gardens have an important role to play in encouraging beneficial insects of all sorts by providing habitat, food and reproduction sites. Far more insects are our friends - beneficials - than are harmful. During the last years, threats to the world's pollinating insects have been increasing. Colony Collapse Disorder of honeybee populations has been in the news a lot, not just in Canada. Concerns have reached international levels and to the United Nations Environment Program. Your good gardening practices are essential for pollinators, including bees of all sorts. Organic, agro-ecological, or SANER [sustainable, all natural, environmentally responsible] - call it what you will - healthy gardening based in the 4 L's of Looking around, Learning, Labour and Love will contribute.
Best wishes to all of you,
Why's Woman
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