Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland today welcomed the decision by the UK Government to urgently review the decline of bees.
UK Environment Under Secretary Lord de Mauley made the announcement at a special Bee Summit organised by Friends of the Earth on Friday 28th June in London. He said that “We must develop a better understanding of the factors that can harm these insects and the changes that government, other organisations and individuals can make to help.”
Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland has campaigned to protect bees following the dramatic fall in British bee numbers in recent years, due to a combination of disease, chemicals and habitat loss.
The organisation had amassed over 70,000 signatures calling on the government to implement a strong ‘Bee Action Plan’. Other successful actions throughout this vibrant campaign have included erecting a billboard in the Prime Minister’s own constituency demanding action, helping individuals create bee-friendly wildflowers habitats and a ‘march of the beekeepers’ through Westminster.
‘The Bee Cause’ campaign previously secured a huge victory in April 2013 when the European Commission banned three neonicotinoid insecticides widely linked to bee decline.
Andy Atkins, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland said “We’re delighted that enormous pressure for a Bee Action Plan from scientists, businesses and the public has stung the government into action. The Minister’s plan of action must be in place when bees emerge from hibernation next spring – we can’t afford to gamble any longer with our food, countryside and economy.”
The organisation also called on the government to include measurable targets for reversing the loss of bees and other pollinators and to widen the review to involve other government departments, not just the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
