Number of wild bee species at risk of extinction in Europe doubles in 10 years | Bees
The number of wild bee species in danger of extinction in Europe has more than doubled in the last decade, while the number of endangered butterfly species has almost doubled.
The danger faced by important pollinators has been revealed by scientific studies. Red list of threatened species from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)It was revealed that at least 172 of 1,928 bee species are in danger of extinction in Europe.
The number of butterflies at risk of extinction in Europe has increased from 37 to 65 since the last survey 14 years ago. kind of, Madeiran great white (Pieris wollastoni) has now been declared extinct.
“Beyond their beauty and cultural importance, pollinators such as bees and butterflies are the lifeblood of our health, food systems, and economies; “It ensures the continuity of the fruits, vegetables and seeds that nourish us,” said IUCN director general Grethel Aguilar. “The latest red list assessments in Europe reveal serious challenges, with increasing threats for butterflies and important wild bee species.”
Reasons for recent rapid declines include ongoing destruction or damage to habitats caused by intensification of agriculture and land abandonment, drying of wetlands, overgrazing of animals, and the use of fertilizers and pesticides, including neonicotinoids. Fragmentation of pollinator-friendly habitat greatly increases the risk of local extinction.
Global warming has also turned out to be a major threat: 52% of endangered butterflies in Europe are affected by the climate crisis; this number is nearly twice as high as ten years ago.
The lead coordinator of the wild bee assessment, Dr. According to Denis Michez, up to 90% of flowering plants in Europe depend on animal pollination. “Unfortunately, wild bee populations are in serious decline and cannot be easily replaced with managed colonies,” he said. “If wild bees disappear, many wild plants could also be at risk; flower-rich meadows and beautiful orchid species are just a few.”
15 species of bumble bees, which play an important role in pollinating peas, beans, peanuts and clover, and 14 species of cellophane bees, known for pollinating trees such as willows and red maples, are now classified as threatened. Simpanurgus phyllopodusThe Bee, a mining bee native to the continent and the only European species of this genus, is now considered critically endangered; This is the scientific category closest to extinction in the wild.
Butterflies, found only on mountain tops, are particularly vulnerable to global warming as they must move uphill as their habitat warms but eventually their range becomes depleted. in the south of Spain, Nevada graying And Andalusian anomalous blue It is among more than 40% of European endemics (found only in Europe) that are in danger of extinction.
Critically endangered species in the Mediterranean Kerpe graying It is in danger due to extreme drought and forest fires.
Meanwhile, in the Arctic Circle, global warming is causing the tree line to shift tens of meters north each year, with shrubs encroaching on swamps and tundra. Warmer conditions also mean that reindeer can no longer cross the ice to graze Arctic grasslands and keep them open. Eight butterfly species are threatened with extinction in this region, including Freyja’s fritillary and the Arctic ringleader.
““The biggest habitat for all these pollinators is flower-rich grassland, and they are disappearing very quickly across Europe because of all these factors,” said Martin Warren, one of the lead coordinators of the butterfly assessment. “The positive thing is that a lot of people now care about this and there is much more awareness. Under EU nature restoration legislation, all member states are required to reduce pollinators by 2030.” They will need to turn it around and start doing something. There are land owners who are interested. Let’s hope they can get incentives to help them along the way.”
According to Warren, there are “low-hanging fruit” in terms of the action of pollinators that can increase food production rather than reduce it, just as farmers create flower-filled areas around their fields.
Jessika Roswall, EU commissioner for the environment, water resilience and competitive circular economy, described the conservation situation of wild bees, butterflies and other pollinators as “horrible”.
“Urgent and collective action is needed to overcome this threat. The European Commission, together with member states, has introduced an EU-wide monitoring system for pollinators, based on the EU nature restoration regulation, to help track our progress. “We now need to focus on enforcement and cooperation with member states to protect our pollinators,” he said.
The publication of the bee and butterfly assessments follows the first European-wide assessment. evaluation of flying fliesAnother important pollinator group. The report, published in 2022, found that 37% of all hoverfly species in Europe are at risk of extinction.
