Biodiversity at the heart of the European Green Deal

“The restoration of nature is essential for our physical and mental well-being and can help fight climate change and the onset of diseases”. Word of Ursula von der Leyen , President of the European Commission, who assures to place biodiversity at the center of the European Green Deal in the context of “a model of European recovery that gives back to the planet more than it takes away”.

Indeed, the powerful strategy for biodiversity launched by the Union sets ambitious goals for 2030 : planting 3 billion trees , increasing the area under organic cultivation and guaranteeing biodiversity in agricultural land , restoring at least 25,000 km of free-flowing rivers , reducing the use and harmfulness of pesticides by 50% . Results that can be achieved by unlocking 20 billion euros a year between European funds, national financing and private capital. 

Among the promises of the European institutions there is also that of halting the decline of pollinating insects , on which 75% of the world’s crops depend. Their role becomes even more precious in this historical moment in which global warming puts agricultural yields under stress .

What does the directive provide for park authorities

The 2021 Directive for national park bodies and marine protected areas, issued by the Minister for Ecological Transition, Roberto Cingolani , fits into this framework . In fact, since the protected areas were established in 1991, the ministry dictates the guidelines on their activities to protect biodiversity at regular intervals. 

This year, the directive places great emphasis on the decline of pollinating insects, asking park authorities to:

• Continue the monitoring of diurnal and nocturnal pollinating insects , on the basis of the Ispra directives and the common European scheme.
• Reconstruct the causes of the deaths of bees and other pollinators, mapping both the use of synthetic pesticides in agriculture and the loss of natural habitats.
• Identify and propose new system actions for the protection of biodiversity by 15 May , allying themselves with other park bodies inside and outside their region.

How are pollinating insects

The decline of pollinating insects is a problem that affects Europe like the United States, Russia like Brazil. In our continent it manifests itself above all in Western countries : Belgium, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and, indeed, Italy.

It is estimated that around one third of the bee and butterfly population in Europe is in decline, but it is difficult to trace the exact numbers because there are not enough scientific studies to support it. However, it is eloquent that one in ten species of bees and butterflies are at risk of extinction . All this puts an agricultural production in the balance which, again in the Old Continent, has a value of about 15 billion euros.

A large share of the responsibility lies with the use of pesticides in agriculture . Unfortunately, there is no good news on this front.

A recent article published in Science points out that, although the amount of pesticides has decreased in the last 25 years, their harmful impact on bees has even doubled . An apparent paradox that can be explained by the fact that the new formulations are designed to harm vertebrates (including humans) as little as possible but, on the other hand, are more toxic to insects.