The Welsh government announced a National Pollinator Action Plan today in response to Friends of the Earth’s campaign, The Bee Cause, to help protect Britain’s bees.
The push in Government for the Plan was headed by Welsh Environment Minister John Griffiths after talks with Friends of the Earth’s Bee Cause team, which has been campaigning in England and Wales for National Bee Action Plans.
The loss of the bee as a pollinator would cost the UK up to £1.8 billion every year in hand-pollination, according to research published in April by Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Bleddyn Lake, for Friends of the Earth Wales (Friends of the Earth Cymru) said: “It’s fantastic that Wales is taking the lead with action to safeguard our environment. This is great news for Wales and will hopefully also sting David Cameron into taking action by introducing a UK Bee Action Plan. Our bees are declining fast and urgently need protecting – without them the UK would have to spend billions of pounds hand-pollinating many of our favourite fruit and vegetables.”
Friends of the Earth and other groups will be working closely with the Welsh government on the actual content of the plan, too. Initial suggestions include alterations to the planning system, planting more bee-friendly plants on grass verges and near roads, and studying the effect pesticides are having in Wales.
Friends of the Earth is hoping to repeat this victory in Westminster, and wants to have a similar plan announced for England, and across the entire UK. The Bee Cause has already collected over 30,000 signatures for its petition to UK Prime Minister David Cameron to form a UK-wide Bee Action Plan.
Friends of the Earth is campaigning to protect bee because bee numbers have fallen dramatically in recent year. Many factors are causing bees’ decline, including habitat loss, disease, climate change and pesticide use.
Bees are essential to our food supply, economy and quality of life. Bees pollinate 75% of vital crops, foods and plants, and are in turn crucial to other insects, birds and animals.
To sign the petition to David Cameron and see what else you can do to help bees, visit www.foe.co.uk/bees.
