The value of pollinators for peace

More than 40% of insect species are threatened with extinction. Butterflies, Hymenoptera and dung beetles are most at risk. The reasons for decline are well known, e.g. modern agriculture with large monocultures, chemicals, land use change, loss of habitats and habitat fragmentation.

Most critical are the consequences of pollinator loss. 87% of all flowering plants depend on pollinators. They need pollinators for regeneration and for climate change adaption: Cross pollination enhances genetic diversity and thus the chances of plant species to adapt to climate change. Without continuous enrichment of genetic diversity these plants could become rapidly extinct in the course of climate change inducing temperature extremes, changing temperatures and precipitation patterns and seasonal abnormalities. These plants encompass e.g. mangroves sustaining coasts, valuable wild forage plants, plants important to prevent soil erosion, raw materials and medicinal plants.

If these plants would disappear because they cannot regenerate anymore, this would impact all other ecosystem services (dark green in fig. 1) to some extent, namely the share of ecosystem services relying on these 87% of flowering plants. However, environment with low diversity are also more prone to storms, pests and others risks.  If many plants disappear simultaneously, entire ecosystems might collapse. We humans might be forced into permanent tension about mudflows, salt water flooding fields and villages, more air pollution, because we might lose trees working as filters (see bright green examples in fig. 1). We would lose beautiful natural sites for recreation and suffer more from mental tension.

(Invasive) pollinator-independent plants might compensate loss of photosynthesis, soil erosion or flood prevention to some extent, but is it likely, that these plants will be as useful for humankind, livestock, wildlife and ecosystems? Pollinator independent plants like sedges could occupy the space, but will they provide adequate services as for instance the common mangrove Avicennia germinans does?

How would we react, if a region producing many pollinator dependent crops would lose its pollinators to a critical extent? Invite beekeepers? That does not work on all altitudes and for all flower types. Breeding pollinator independent crops or shift to pollinator independent crops? This might lead to the loss of the last remaining pollinators in that region, because they would lose their last nectar and pollen sources. Shift to hand pollination? Not possible for all flower types – and even in China this is regarded as too costly for many crops. What would be the consequences of a shift to e.g. barley and maize for increased livestock production? Loss of vitamins, higher use of water, higher greenhouse gas emission, higher air pollution etc.

Without pollinators and scarce vegetation nature gives little support to our wellbeing, it even threatens e.g. by erosion and mudflows.

In particular inhabitants from mountainous villages losing their traditional crops like apple or buckwheat, wild forage plants, medicinal plants or plants with strong root systems in slopes would face high challenges. How do we react on income loss? Men and young inhabitants might migrate for work, will women, children and old-age inhabitants be able to cope with increasing mudflows? In particular if remittances will be scarce. Migrants often live first in higher insecurity, tension might increase also in regions absorbing them. Fig. 1 shows some aspects which might be affected negatively in orange and potential consequences in brown.

If we lose cotton, linen and other pollinator dependent raw materials, we can wear more synthetic fibers – and produce more garbage not compostable. We would add a burden to our planet.

How will we react, if prizes for vegetables and fruits will highly increase, because the products get scarce? How will the processing industry react, what about the jobs? How will the stock exchange react?

How will regions and finally nations react, if large regions are not inhabitable anymore due to frequent disasters? How will they react, if food rich in iron, vitamins and folate gets scarce? We might have more fights, even military fights to get access to good food, good environment for people (see some risks in fig. 1 in red). Climate change impacts will fuel the negative impacts of pollinator loss, so interlinked poverty spirals might occur faster than expected.

Pollinator protection is important to sustain peace – it would be advantageous to think on it in this way. Therefore, pollinator protection is a priority for everybody, not just for environmentalists and the agricultural sector. Take your time and reflect, how you can contribute!