A new report published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) shows that almost a quarter of bumblebee species in Europe are currently threatened by extinction.
The new report is the product of a Europe-wide analysis on bumblebee habitats and populations. Due to the destruction of their natural habitats, 24 percent of the 68 species on bumblebees in Europe are currently at risk. The 16 species that have been classified as "threatened" have now been added to the IUCN's Red List.
"We are very concerned with these findings. Such a high proportion of threatened bumblebees can have serious implications for our food production," said IUCN European Biodiversity officer Ana Nieto. "Protecting bumblebee species and habitats, restoring degraded ecosystems and promoting biodiversity-friendly agricultural practices will be essential to reverse the negative trends in European bumblebee populations." Nieto is also the coordinator of the IUCN study.
Bumblebees represent an important component of the European ecosystem. These insects enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship with many plants. When the bees are collecting nectar from plant flowers, they also pollinate the plants and they are considered as essential organisms in the cultivation of many crops.
Due to the dwindling populations of bumblebees, farmers are growing more concerned about the possible effects on agriculture. Current estimates place the contribution of pollinators such as bumblebees to the European agricultural industry at €22 billion euros (around $30 billion). If the populations of European bumblebees continue to go down, the environmental and financial after effects could potentially be devastating.
"The plight of Europe's bumblebees is a problem that needs to be tackled on all fronts. The European Union recently banned or restricted the use of certain pesticides that are dangerous to bees, and is funding research into status of pollinators," said EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potoċnik. "However, efforts clearly need to be scaled up, not least through better mainstreaming of biodiversity into other policies, but also to raise awareness about the benefits that pollinators bring."
One of the main reasons behind the dwindling bumblebee populations is the ongoing destruction of wildflower meadows throughout the continent. These meadows represent an essential food source for bumblebees. The destruction of the meadows is often a side effect of using industrial pesticides and herbicides in an effort to control weeds on various farmlands.
"Many of these species live in very restricted areas and in low numbers," says Pierre Rasmont, member of the STEP team and the IUCN Species Survival Commission's Bumblebees Specialist Group. "They are often extremely specialized on their host plants, which makes them susceptible to any environmental change."
While the 23 member nations of the EU have been ramping up efforts to conserve the bumblebees, experts say that more stringent methods may be required.
"The contribution of bumblebees to food security and the maintenance of wider plant biodiversity is an essential part of Europe's natural capital," says Simon Potts, Coordinator of STEP. "However, this capital is under increasing threat and the results of this Red List assessment represent an important tool to help protect an indispensable component of biodiversity."
