Saving the small things that run the planetNo Insectinction – how to solve the insect declines crisis
Insect populations are in crisis
Recent studies paint a grim picture of the decline of insects across the planet. A well-publicised review recently concluded that current rates of decline could lead to the extinction of 41% of the world’s insect species over the next few decades. Butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, and dung beetles are amongst the most at risk, along with freshwater insects such as stoneflies, caddisflies and mayflies. A small number of unfussy, very mobile and pollutant-tolerant species are able to cope with the damage that humans are doing to our planet. These generalist species are replacing the rich diversity of species that make up the fabric of life on Earth.
It is becoming increasingly clear that our planet’s ecological balance is breaking and there is an urgent need for an intense and global effort to halt and reverse these dreadful trends. Allowing the insect eradication crisis to become a catastrophe is not a rational option for anyone.
Insects make up over half the species on Earth, our planet’s health depends on them, so their enduring disappearance is intensely concerning. The rate of loss of insect life is much faster than that of higher profile wildlife like birds and mammals – the local extinction rate for insects is eight times higher! There are many causes, and they all need to be addressed, but the evidence is clear, we will not halt the crisis without urgently reversing habitat loss and degradation, preventing and mitigating climate change, cleaning-up polluted waters, and replacing pesticide dependency with sustainable farming methods.
We believe that there should be sustainable populations of all insects. ‘No Insectinction’ is Buglife’s response to the current crisis – a prescription for healing our planet, by restoring our depleted and devastated insect populations (and indeed all other invertebrates such as earthworms, spiders and snails).
We must achieve three things:
1) Room for insects to thrive – we need to make space for wildlife and reconnect the wild parts of our landscapes
2) Safe spaces for insects – we must free our land and freshwaters from pollutants and invasive species
3) Friendlier relationship with insects – We need to act now to stop insectinction. However, the scale and quality of that action is still limited by our lack of understanding and awareness.
‘No Insectinction’ is a call for action, a coming together of people and organisations with a shared endeavour to heal our planet’s life support system.
Leading by example in the UK and EU, we call upon governments and decision makers around the world to take decisive action to tackle this ecological crisis.
We can stop, and reverse the global declines in our insects, but only if everyone pulls together to do their bit.
Small steps can have a huge impact if they all fall at the same time Five things you can do to reverse insect declines
From £36 per year, Membership directly supports our vital conservation work. In return you receive Member benefits and our bi-annual Buzz magazine and keep up to date with the latest news on the No Insectinction campaign. We offer a range of Membership options including Household, Student, Overseas & Life
Find out moreWe can solve the Insectinction crisis, but we need to act quickly, and we need your help. Please help us to be the voice for insects, so we can fight for a wildlife filled planet for future generations.
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