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Opportunities to expand and improve pollinator habitats

This fact sheet looks at how farmers, gardeners and land managers can modify their practices to provide more food and water sources and improve habitat quality for for these insects. It highlights how moving to more bee-friendly practices can deliver other benefits too – for wildlife and for people.

Bee-friendly practices in farmingThe transformation of the farming landscape and practices over the last two generations has had profound impacts on wildlife and wild flowers. More intensive, specialised systems, aiming for high yield outputs through increased use of agrochemical, fossil fuel and other inputs, have contributed to the loss of many habitats and landscape features, natural resource degradation and decline of useful

biodiversity across Europe1. The intensification trend has also reduced landscape elements (e.g. hedgerows, ponds) and enlarged farm and field sizes2. However, there are several practical measures that farmers of all types can take to help restore ecological balance, by providing more resources for pollinating insects and reducing harm from pesticides. The following aspects mainly concern conventional farmers as organic systems tend to be much better for pollinators, however some of the

Credit: Stephanie Williamson, PAN UK

www.pan-uk.org

actions like expanding habitat can enhance all types of farming systems.

Expanding natural habitat on and around the farm:

Leaving small uncultivated areas for wildlife can make a real difference to the abundance and the diversity of plants and animals on farmland. More farmers now leave grassy margins along field borders, rather than cultivating right up to the edge, while awkward field corners and unproductive areas on the farm can be left as a more natural habitat. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) experts recommend a minimum of 5% of farm surface (excluding forested areas) to be managed as an ‘ecological infrastructure’, without agrochemical inputs3. The aim is not only to enhance wild flowers and fauna but to also conserve valuable ‘natural enemies’ (such as predator ladybirds, hoverflies, ground beetles and parasitic wasps) of insect pests, contributing free pest control services to the farmer.

Bees need a varied landscape to maintain healthy colonies. Countryside where crops are interspersed with hedges and wooded zones, where wetlands and flower-rich grassland can still flourish, adds aesthetic value to the landscape as well as pollinator well-being4. Setting up ‘ecological compensation areas’ in pasture can enhance pollinator diversity in grassland livestock farming too5.

Numerous options exist for farmers under EU-supported agri-environment schemes to farm with wildlife in mind . In the UK, these are organised under the Entry Level (ELS) and Higher Level Stewardship schemes. Some of these management practices have been shown to boost abundance and diversity of

wild bees by providing more flowering and nesting resources6. Apart from the specific bee conservation option of sowing nectar flower mixes (see below), other options beneficial for pollinators include: sowing wild bird seed mix strips; low agrochemical input grassland; natural, uncropped field margins; and upland traditional hay meadow management.

Expanding crop rotations and adding legumes:

Searching for suitable food sources, honeybees travel a foraging radius of around 3 km from their hive, equating to a foraging area of 30 km2 7. Yet the range of suitably varied flowers in farmed landscapes has dropped enormously with the trend to larger field sizes and reduced variety of arable crops. Monoculture field patterns comprising mainly maize, wheat and a few other cereals are common across Europe and lead to reduced quality, quantity and diversity of the nectar and pollen diet available for bees8. The result is a few weeks of abundant pollinator food when the crop is in flower, followed by a

Credit: Stephanie Williamson, PAN UK

season-long dearth9. Studies show that a nutritious and diverse diet from foraging different plant species is needed to keep bee pollinator populations healthy10,11.

Expanded rotations can improve pollinator foraging opportunities,

especially if more nutritious and bee-favoured legume crops (peas, beans) are added. Legumes are generally very important for honey production, both in quantity and quality. Cover crops, such as clover and alfalfa, can also be included within the rotation for reliable sources of pollen and nectar. More diverse crop rotations assist in preventing and suppressing pest, disease and weed problems (see factsheet 6) and form the first general principle of Integrated Pest Management in the EU’s Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive12. The European Parliament has urged for more legume crops, mixed cropping within fields, cover cropping and ecological infrastructure areas to be at the heart of the EU Common Agricultural Policy reform due in 201413.

Legume plants ‘fix’ nitrogen from the air into the soil, increasing nutrients available for subsequent crops. Adding more legumes into farming systems can therefore help farmers’ bottom line by enhancing soil fertility and reducing use of

costly synthetic fertiliser. Using less fertiliser

will also reduce nitrate pollution of groundwater,

a major problem in many intensively farmed river basins.

More legume cultivation would help address one of the seriously

unsustainable aspects of current European livestock production, highly dependent on imported protein crops. Europe imports 30 million tonnes of soyabean flour per year to feed its animals14. These imports exert an unacceptable ecological ‘footprint’ in South America, where most of the soya is grown. The industrial scale and practices of soya cultivation has destroyed millions of hectares of forest and grasslands and its intensive pesticide use poisons communities living nearby15,16. Soya expansion by agri-business has pushed out thousands of family farmers in South America from their land17. By growing more legumes here, European farmers could regain control of their feed ingredients, contribute to lower greenhouse gas emissions (from reduced use of fertiliser) and help family farmers in South America to cultivate food crops again and protect their natural resources18.

Reducing herbicide use:

Between 1990 and 2006, the herbicide-treated area in the UK increased by 38%19. In 2010, over 22 million hectares of British farmland received applications. This growing reliance on herbicides has profound effects on farmland plant communities, with diversity of wild plants in agricultural fields and field margins declining, especially in infertile grassland and hedge bottoms. Some weed species are now threatened with extinction in

Credit: Stephanie Williamson, PAN UK

“Bees are

reaching their tipping

point because they are

expected to perform in an

increasingly inhospitable world”

Marla Spivak, University of

Minnesota, & colleagues,

USA

Britain20. In the US this trend has been exacerbated by the widespread cultivation of GM crops resistant to herbicides, as increased herbicide spraying takes a heavy toll on arable non-target flora21. Herbicide reliance impacts pollinators indirectly by reducing the diversity and abundance of their floral food resources. For butterfly and moth pollinators whose caterpillars feed only on specific host plants, reduction in these species’ presence can threaten the insects’ survival in some areas.

Herbicides themselves are generally considered harmless to bees although a few may cause sublethal effects on adult bees or disrupt brood development22,23. There could also be synergistic interactions between herbicide residues found in hives, the effect of neonicotinoids and bee susceptibility to parasites and disease (see factsheet 3).

Sowing nectar-rich flowers:

Loss of the traditional farmland flowers found in less intensive farming systems has led to a 75% decline in butterflies and bumblebees in the UK. To improve environmental stewardship the UK Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) scheme subsidises farmers undertaking specific practices to increase flowering plants attractive to bees and butterflies:

• sowing borders of mixed nectar-rich wildflowers

• sowing wildflowers in field headlands

• creating pollen and nectar flower mixtures in horticultural cropping systems

Research shows that farmers who plant nectar floral mixes at field edges, rather

than grass

margins, can attract up to 14 times as many bumblebees24.

Several farming sector-led initiatives encourage more farmers to take up these options, yet less than 0.1% of total farm area under ELS agreements has these so far25. Challenges include tailoring general prescriptions for flower mixture sowing to the situation of each farm, achieving good germination and flowering of the plants over several seasons and ensuring the best management to enhance pollinator foraging. Better uptake of these agri-environment schemes also requires more farmer training and effort to explain the concepts and motivate farmers26.

Other resources for pollinators:

Bees need a lot of water for rearing their brood and maintaining a healthy hive. Worker bees will collect water from lakes, ponds and puddles; morning dew; and liquid droplets exuded from young plants. It is therefore crucial that pollinators have access to clean water on or around farms, which is free from pesticide contamination or other pollutants.

Certain wild pollinators need undisturbed nesting and foraging habitat, making them very susceptible to habitat degradation and fragmentation27. Wild bees may dig

“Over the five years

[of this study], farmers

who had been trained created

better quality wildlife habitat in

terms of flower resources for bees

and seeds for birds. This translated into

local increases in target species of birds

and bees”

James Bullock, NERC Centre for

Ecology & Hydrology, & RELU

research colleagues, UK

nest holes in the ground, use cavities in trees, tunnel into plant stems, or collect mud, resin, foliage and plant fibres to construct their nests28. Good hedgerow management and leaving natural vegetation and undisturbed spots around the farm contribute to improved nesting habitat for these species29.

Reducing reliance on pesticides in general:

Phasing out hazardous pesticides and shifting to ecologically-informed Integrated Pest Management strategies is now endorsed by many global institutions and think-tanks30,31. Using IPM methods rather than current excessive levels of pesticide applications will support pollination services and more sustainable pest management, by avoiding harm to the beneficial insects which help control pests32.

Parks & other open spacesParks, rail and roadside verges, golf courses, football pitches and council playing fields, common land, urban paved

areas, car parks, school yards, cemeteries and ‘brownfield’ industrial sites are all open-air spaces in which pollinators may be present. As in farmland, managers of many of these open spaces may apply neonicotinoids and other pesticides for pest control in what is termed the ‘amenity’ sector. They therefore offer opportunities for becoming more ‘bee-friendly’ by reducing pesticide use and by changes in management practices to improve pollinator habitat33.

Herbicides are often used to clear waste ground, industrial sites, railway lines and roadside embankments and this can negatively affect forage opportunities, by reducing flowering plant abundance. Several local authories have set pesticide reduction targets and gained IPM experience on methods to reduce reliance on pesticides34,35. Bee-friendly wildflowers can be sown on roadside and other transport routes, adding visual appeal for people too. These plantings provide corridors for pollinator movement, a refuge from pesticide-contaminated cropland, help reduce soil erosion and deliver lower roadside management costs36. Technical advice is needed for land managers as habitat guidelines will vary across regions and the type of open space and its uses. General advice is to include at least three different plant species that flower at different times of year and cluster single species into groups to increase pollinator foraging efficiency.

The BBC TV programme Bees, Butterflies and Blooms (presented by gardener Sarah Raven) featured case studies of local councils’ efforts37. Measures include changing planting designs in municipal parks to put in more flowers attractive

“If biodiversity is to

be restored in Europe and opportunities are to be created

for crop production utilizing biodiversity-based ecosystem services such as biological pest control, there must be a Europe-wide shift towards farming with minimal use of pesticides over

large areas” Flavia Geiger, University of

Wageningen, Netherlands & colleagues

to bees and creating flowering ‘mini-meadows’ in grassed areas. The public have been enthusiastic about the results and meadow creation can also cut down on lawn mowing, saving money for cash-strapped councils. A video clip shows the beautiful meadows sown around the London Olympic Games sites.

Gardens Many pesticides for garden pest control contain neonicotinoids - something that gardeners may not be aware of. Our website lists UK pesticide products for ornamental and amateur uses which contain neonicotinoids (http://www.pan-uk.org/home-garden/list-of-home-and-garden-pesticides-containing-neonicotinoids). Gardeners and homeowners can help reduce risk to pollinators by avoiding pesticide application around plants in flower or in areas where bees are nesting. The best course of action for gardeners, for whom pest damage is cosmetic rather than economic, is to stop using pesticides at all38,39,40. Consumers can also demand that garden centres stop using neonicotinoids on pot plants in nurseries. More information and links to useful resources are given on our bees webpages.

Landscape level collaborationProjects are underway across the UK to make urban areas more pollinator-friendly. Pioneers such as Bee Guardians www.beeguardianfoundation.org and the London Capital Bee project www.capitalbee.co.uk work with local communities

and schools to encourage bee-friendly practices in private gardens and public spaces. They offer training on beekeeping and support to market high quality urban honey. Their efforts include the 250 wild bee species that also need looking after.

The Urban Pollinators project surveys the diversity and abundance of bee species in four UK cities, collecting data from gardens, parks, road verges, allotments, churchyards and cemeteries41. The aim is to find out which habitat types are best for pollinators and how these habitats can be expanded and improved. Urban habitats can be surprisingly important for pollinators, for example, 35% of the British hoverfly species were found to visit just a single garden in Leicester. In Edinburgh, the project is creating wildflower meadows in parks and schools, trialling different meadow types, comprising annual and perennial species42.

Aiming for countrywide impact, Buglife’s B-Lines project is to improve habitat ‘connectivity’- sowing wide strips of permanent wildflower-rich grassland to join up fragments of habitat so that pollinators can disperse more easily across the countryside43. The project attempts to redress the loss of 3 million hectares of flower-rich grassland in Britain since the 1940s due to agricultural intensification and urban and industrial development. The plan is to create over 150,000 hectares

of pollinator habitat, working with farmers,

other landowners and wildlife

organisations, starting with a pilot phase in Yorkshire.

“There are not

enough blooming flowers over the length

of the growing season in our agricultural and urban landscapes

to support bees” Marla Spivak, University of Minnesota, & colleagues,

USA

Key points

• Farmers can reduce harm to pollinators by avoiding the use of bee-toxic pesticides and reducing use of herbicides which eliminate flowering plants in field margins.

• Expanding crop rotations, especially with legumes, leaving more uncultivated areas and sowing floral field strips increases habitat for pollinators and other wildlife.

• Avoiding use of pesticides in private gardens should be promoted, favouring organic gardening.

• Planting bee-favourite plants in gardens, parks and open spaces can expand pollinator foraging in urban landscapes.

• Shifting to more bee-friendly practices delivers other benefits, environmental and economic, to farmers, local authorities and society.

References1. EEB et al. (2011) The Truth behind the CAP: 13 reasons for green reform. European Environmental Bureau, Birdlife International, Butterfly Conservation Europe, Europarc Federation, European Forum on Nature Conservation & Pastoralism, Friends of the Earth Europe, Greenpeace, IFOAM EU group, PAN Europe and WWF. Via: http://www.eeb.org/index.cfm/library/index.cfm?month=0&year=2011&Agriculture=12. Geiger, F et al. (2010) Persistent negative effects of pesticides on biodiversity and biologicalcontrol potential on European farmland. Basic & Applied Ecology 11 97–105 doi:10.1016/j.baae.2009.12.0013. IOBC/WPRS (2012) Integrated Pest Management. Design and application of feasible and effective strategies. International Organisation for Biological Control (IOBC). Available via PAN Europe: henriette@pan-europe.info4. PAN Europe (2010a) Integrated Production and Bee-friendly Practices exhibition for PAN Europe Alternatives to Pesticides Week 2010, presented at the European Parliament. Via: http://www.pan-europe.info/Resources/Briefings/SSP_EN.pdf 5. Albrecht, M, Duelli, P, Müller, C, Kleijn, D and Schmid, B. (2007) The Swiss agri-environment scheme enhances pollinator diversity and plant reproductive success in nearby intensively managed farmland. J Appl. Ecol 44 (4) 813-8226. Breeze, TD, Roberts, SPM and Potts, SG. (2012) The decline of England’s bees. Policy review and recommendations. University of Reading, UK, and Friends of the Earth. Via: http://www.foe.co.uk/beesreport7. PAN Europe, op.cit.4

8. EP (2011) Report on honeybee health and the challenges of the beekeeping sector (2011/2108 (INI)) Committee on Agriculture & Rural Development, European Parliament. Via: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2011-0359&language=EN9. Spivak, M., Mader, E., Vaughan, M. and Eulis, N.H. (2011) The Plight of the Bees. Environmental Science & Technology 45 34-38. Via: http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/10.1021/es101468w10. Eischen F.A. and Graham R.H. (2008) Feeding overwintering honey bee colonies infected with Nosema ceranae. In: Proceedings of the American Bee Research Conference, Amer. B. Jour. 148 555.11. Alaux, C., Brunet, J-L., and Dussaubat, C. (2010) Interactions between Nosema Microspores and a Neonicotinoid Weaken Honeybees (Apis Mellifera). Environmental Microbiology 12 (3) 774-782

In this series

If you would like to find out more about the relationship between pesticides and pollinator declines, all of these leaflets and other info are available via PAN UK’s bee webpages at: http://bees.pan-uk.org

Bee Declines and the Link with Pesticides. Summary leaflet.

Fact sheets:

1. Different routes of pesticide exposure

2. Sub-lethal and chronic effects of neonicotinoids on bees and other pollinators

3. Serious shortcomings in assessing risks to pollinators

4. Different regulatory positions on neonicotinoids across Europe

5. Can restrictions on systemic insecticides help restore bee health?

6. What could farmers do to rely less on neonicotinoids?

7. Opportunities for improving and expanding pollinator habitats

8. Action on neonicotinoid and other bee-toxic pesticides

References continued

Pesticide Action Network UK is a registered charity dedicated to:-• Eliminating the most hazardous pesticides, • Reducing dependence on chemical pesticides, • Promoting sustainable and equitable food systems

and increasing the use of alternatives to chemical pest control in agriculture, urban areas, public health and homes and gardens

In the UK, we campaign for tighter regulatory controls on pesticides and encourage retailers to tackle pesticide problems in their supply chains. We provide advice on alternative ways to control pests and work with local communities to reduce public exposure to pesticides. In the developing world, we raise awareness about pesticide hazards and train farmers in organic and low input agricultural techniques to help them to

make a decent living without putting their own health, their families or their environment at risk. Populations of bees and other insect pollinators have fallen dramatically in recent years. The reasons for these declines are complex and wide ranging, but there is little doubt that pesticides are playing a key part. PAN UK has prepared these fact sheets to cut through the confusion and provide an up-to date and balanced explanation of the role of pesticides in pollinator declines. To find out more and what you can do, please visit http:\\bees.pan-uk.org

Published by Pesticide Action Network UK. September 2012

PAN UK, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London, EC2A 4LT

Tel: 44 (0)20 7065 0905, admin@pan-uk.org, www.pan-uk.org

PAN UK’s vital work in the UK and in developing countries

12. EU (2009) Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides. European Union. Via: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:309:0071:0086:EN:PDF13. EP, op.cit.814. PAN Europe, op.cit.415. Souza, J. (2008) GM soya expansion fuels endosulfan use in Argentina. Pesticides News 80 7-9. Via: http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/Issue/pn80/pn807-9.pdf16. Williamson, S. (2008) Rural communities in Paraguay endangered by soya pesticides. Pesticides News 81 12-15. Via: http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/Issue/pn81/pn81_p12-15.pdf17. FoEE (2010) How the CAP is causing soy expansion and deforestation in South America. Briefing paper, Friends of the Earth Europe, Brussels. Via: http://www.foeeurope.org/sites/default/files/cap_causing_soy_expansion_in_south_america1.pdf18. Dutch Soy Coalition (2011) Soy: Big Business, Big Responsibility. Addressing the social- and environmental impact of the soy value chain. Dutch Soy Coalition, Netherlands. Via: http://commodityplatform.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/both-ends-sojaboek-eng-2011-medium-res.pdf19. Fera (2009) Pesticide Usage Statistics: Tables 2009. Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera), UK. Via: http://pusstats.csl.gov.uk/index.cfm20. Preston, C.D.,Telfer, M.G.,Arnold, H.R., Carey, RD., Cooper, J.M., Dines,T.D., Hill, M.O., Pearman, D.A., Roy, D.B. & Smart , S.M. (2002) The changing flora of the UK. DEFRA, London.21. Johnson, RM., Ellis, MD, Mullin, CA and Frazier,M. (2010) Pesticides and Honey Bee Toxicity – USA. Apidologie 41 (3) 312-31. 22. Papaefthimiou, C., Pavlidou, V., Gregorc, A. and Theophilidis, G. (2002) The action of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid on the isolated heart of insect and amphibia. Environ. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 11 127–14023. Burlew, DA. (2010) The Effects of Pesticide-Contaminated Pollen on Larval Development of the Honey Bee, Apis mellifera. Thesis submitted for Master of Environmental Study, Evergreen State College, USA.24. Natural England (2009) Farming for farm wildlife. Make the most of Environmental Stewardship and the Campaign for the Farmed Environment. Natural England. Via: www.naturalengland.org.uk/es 25. Breeze et al., op.cit.626. RELU (2012) Improving the success of agri-environment initiatives. RELU Policy & Practice Notes 37, Rural Economy & Land Use Programme, Centre for Rural Economy, University of Newcastle. Via: www.relu.ac.uk27. UNEP (2010) Emerging Issues: Global Honey Bee Colony Disorder and Other Threats to Insect Pollinators. United Nations Environment Program, Geneva. Via: http://www.unep.org/dewa/

Portals/67/pdf/Global_Bee_Colony_Disorder_and_Threats_insect_pollinators.pdf28. Hopwood, J, Vaughan, M, Shepherd, M, Biddinger, D, Mader,E, Hoffman Black, S and Mazzacano, C. (2012) Are neonicotinoids killing bees? A review of research into the effects of neonicotinoid insecticides on bees, with recommendations for action. Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, USA. www.xerces.org29. Buglife (2007) Gardening for bumblebees. Buglife. Via: http://www.buglife.org.uk/getinvolved/gardening/Create+a+bumblebee-friendly+garden30. IAASTD (2009) Agriculture at the Crossroads. International Assessment of Agriculture Knowledge, Science & Technology for Development. Via: http://www.agassessment.org31. FAO (2011) Save and Grow: Guide for policy makers. Food & Agriculture Organisation, Rome. Via: http://www.fao.org/ag/save-and-grow/index_en.html 32. Geiger et al., op.cit.233. BBCT (undated) Managing brownfield and industrial land… for bumblebees. Land Management factsheet 9, Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Via: http://beekind.bumblebeeconservation.org/34. LBC (undated) Pesticide Reduction Policy. Parks Department, London Borough of Camden, UK. Via: http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CFEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.camden.gov.uk%2Fccm%2Fcms-service%2Fdownload%2Fasset%3Fasset_id%3D738239&ei=gDUNUOWBI6XG0QXTpeTXCg&usg=AFQjCNHStGprNT_wMFl9cejGvEUUMgMGlg35. PAN Europe (2010b) NAP best practice. Sustainable Use of Pesticides: implementing a National Action Plan. PAN Europe, Brussels. Via: http://www.pan-europe.info/Resources/Reports/NAP_best_practice.pdf36. Spivak et al., op.cit.937. BBC (2012) Bees, Butterflies and Blooms. BBC2 TV series presented by Sarah Raven. Via: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b013pw23/episodes/guide38. Spivak et al., op.cit.939. Buglife, op.cit.2940. Bee Guardians (undated) Bee gardening. Bee Guardians. Via: http://beeguardianfoundation.org/how-you-can-help/become-bee-guardian/bee-gardening/index.html41. University of Bristol (2012) Urban Pollinators: ecology and conservation. University of Bristol. Via: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/biology/research/ecological/community/pollinators/42. ECC (2012) Wildlife conservation and biodiversity. Urban Pollinators Project. Edinburgh City Council. Via: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/94/wildlife_conservation/550/wildlife_conservation_and_biodiversity/543. Buglife (2011) B-lines project. Buglife. Via: http://www.buglife.org.uk/conservation/currentprojects/Habitats+Action/B-Lines