Farmers raise concern as critical food supply faces collapse after ‘tremendous’ losses: ‘It’s harder to keep them alive’ – Yahoo

Report on Honeybee Population Decline and its Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

Beekeepers in the New England region are reporting unsustainable honeybee hive losses, with some areas in Connecticut experiencing up to a 90% decline. This trend is part of a larger, nationwide issue that poses a significant threat to biodiversity, food security, and economic stability. The crisis directly impacts the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to hunger, biodiversity, and sustainable production.

Causal Factors of Pollinator Decline

The decline is attributed to a combination of environmental stressors that compromise bee health and survival. These factors challenge the principles of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

• Pesticides: The use of neonicotinoids, a potent insecticide, impairs bees’ cognitive functions, preventing them from returning to their hives. This highlights unsustainable agricultural practices that harm essential ecosystems.
• Parasites: The proliferation of parasites, such as Varroa mites, weakens bee colonies, making them more susceptible to other environmental stressors.
• Habitat Loss: The clearing of land for development reduces the availability of natural forage and nesting sites essential for bee populations, directly contributing to the loss of biodiversity under SDG 15.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

The collapse of honeybee populations has far-reaching consequences that undermine progress toward key global development targets.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: Pollinators are critical for the cultivation of approximately one-third of all human food crops, including 130 types of fruits and vegetables. Continued bee decline threatens catastrophic impacts on crop yields, food availability, and price stability, jeopardizing global food security.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: Bees are essential for the reproduction of about 80% of all flowering plants, making them a keystone species for terrestrial ecosystems. Their loss represents a severe blow to biodiversity and the health of land-based ecosystems.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The ecological services provided by pollinators are valued at an estimated $200 billion annually in the United States. The decline impacts the livelihoods of beekeepers and the economic viability of the agricultural sector.

Mitigation Strategies and Policy Responses for SDG Achievement

Addressing the bee crisis requires a multi-faceted approach involving individual, community, and government action. These strategies align with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Recommended Actions:

1. Promoting Biodiversity in Local Environments: Individuals and communities can contribute by “rewilding” yards and public spaces with native plants. Creating pollinator-friendly habitats directly supports SDG 15.
2. Supporting Local Pro-Pollinator Initiatives: Municipal efforts to encourage pollinator-friendly planting and habitat restoration are crucial for building resilient and sustainable local ecosystems in line with SDG 11.
3. Implementing Stricter Pesticide Regulations: State-level actions, such as Connecticut’s partial ban on neonicotinoids effective in 2027, represent a critical step towards more sustainable agricultural production models (SDG 12) that protect vital pollinators.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The article highlights the critical role of honeybees in food production, stating they are essential for cultivating “130 fruits and vegetables, or about a third of everything we eat.” The decline of bees threatens crop yields and the food supply, directly connecting to food security.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The economic contribution of pollinators is valued at “about $200 billion” annually by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The article also notes that the bee decline affects beekeepers, most of whom are “small-scale hobbyists,” impacting their livelihoods and a significant economic sector.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The article identifies the use of “neonicotinoids,” a type of insecticide, as a primary cause of bee decline. This points to unsustainable production practices in agriculture and the need for environmentally sound management of chemicals.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The core issue is the “concerning long-term decline” of honeybees, a key species for biodiversity. The article explicitly names “habitat loss from land being cleared for development” as a major cause, directly relating to the protection and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems and halting biodiversity loss.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  • Target 2.4: “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems…” The article’s focus on the catastrophic effects of bee decline on the “nation’s food supply” and “crop yields” directly relates to the need for maintaining ecosystems (pollinators) to ensure sustainable food production.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  • Target 12.4: “By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle…and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.” The article’s discussion of neonicotinoids being “harmful to pollinators” and the state-level plan for a “partial ban” on them directly addresses the management of harmful chemicals to protect the environment.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  • Target 15.5: “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.” The article describes the “record-breaking losses” and “long-term decline” of honeybees due to habitat loss, which aligns with the goal of halting biodiversity loss and protecting species.
  • Target 15.9: “By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes…” The article mentions that “Municipalities across Connecticut have advanced pro-bee measures like encouraging pollinator-friendly planting,” which is a direct example of integrating biodiversity values into local planning.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Rate of honeybee hive losses: The article explicitly states that some hives have “suffered losses as high as 90%” and that current rates are “unsustainable.” This percentage loss serves as a direct indicator of the health of pollinator populations and the state of biodiversity (Target 15.5). Tracking this rate over time would measure the success of conservation efforts.
• Area of pollinator-friendly habitats: The article suggests solutions like “rewilding a yard with native plants” and “pollinator-friendly planting.” An implied indicator is the increase in the total area of land dedicated to such habitats, which would measure progress in reducing habitat degradation (Target 15.5) and integrating biodiversity into local planning (Target 15.9).
• Regulation and use of harmful pesticides: The article mentions a “partial ban on neonicotinoids” will go into effect. A measurable indicator would be the reduction in the volume of neonicotinoids and other harmful pesticides sold and used, which would track progress towards the environmentally sound management of chemicals (Target 12.4).
• Prevalence of parasites in bee populations: The article identifies “parasites like Varroa mites” as a key cause of decline. Monitoring the prevalence and infestation levels of these parasites in bee colonies would be an indicator of bee health and the resilience of the ecosystem (Target 2.4 and 15.5).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: yahoo.com