THE SDLP’s former Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has encouraged people and organisations to do their bit to implement recommendations from the All Ireland Pollinator Plan to combat the rapidly declining bee population across the island.
Speaking ahead of World Bee Day this Thursday, May 20, the Foyle MLA said: “Bees and other pollinators are under threat, largely due to human activity.
“Given that pollination is fundamental in the survival of our ecosystems this decline could have devastating consequences for agriculture, food security and biodiversity.
“Yet, there are actions all of us can take to address this challenge.
“Ahead of World Bee Day on May 20 we should turn our sights again to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan which I published in 2015 during my time as Environment Minister as part of a cross-border framework on Climate Action.
“The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is about each and every one of us; farmers, local authorities, schools, gardeners and businesses.
“It was built with the goal of creating a safe-haven where bees can survive and thrive.
“Bees are declining because we have drastically reduced areas where they can nest and the amount of food our landscape provides them.
“The fact that one third of our native bee population are threatened with extinction is startling to say the least.
“However, by coming together to develop a strategy to encourage a bee-friendly Ireland, we can reverse the negative impact on our environment and protect it well into the future.
“The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is a simple one – easily implemented in our daily lives and has the potential to create a world of difference.
“Everyone can play their part, whether that is creating ‘pit-stops’ in your gardens or raising awareness on the importance of protecting our bees, as carried out by our fantastic Eco-schools.
“To date the positive response has been overwhelming. We want to ensure that momentum continues, particularly now as we move into the summer months.
“Initiatives like these will play into the larger Climate Change Bill currently making its way through the Assembly and help us achieve sustainable development goals.”
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