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The decline of honey bees
represents a major loss in biodiversity, as honey bees are not only
responsible for producing honey, but play a vital role in
pollinating plants for food and other crops.
Approximately a third of our human
diet is directly dependent on bees, making them central to our
existence. In the natural environment, bees are also responsible for
pollinating around 90% of the wild plants which produce seeds and
fruits on which birds and wild animals depend, thus making them even
more central to our world's existence.
Currently, honey bees are coming
under threat from pests and diseases for which treatments are not
fully understood or are ineffective. Many bee keepers have
experienced the complete destruction of their hives from such
diseases, whilst the UK is losing its bee population at around 30% a
year (up from just 6% in 2003). The UK has 250 species of bees,
three of which have already become nationally extinct.
In April 2009, the Government and
its funding partners announced a £10 million fund over 5 years for
research into the threat facing all pollinators. While honey bees
will benefit, this money does not give them the prominence they
deserve in terms of their importance to our food supplies and the
ecosystem. The British Bee Keepers Association had previously called
for £8 million just for bee research. Sharing this limited funding
simply means that much important work may remain unfunded. It is
vital that these funds are committed to the work that can make a
real difference and meet the challenges facing honey bees.
Stewart commented: “I should like to
first of all congratulate the WI for raising awareness about this
serious issue. The plight of the honey bee has long been a concern
of mine and whilst I welcomed the additional funding that was
recently announced by DEFRA, I was concerned to learn that this
funding would be shared amongst research projects into all
pollinators rather than honey bee health. I appreciate that
pollinators are important; however do not believe that the
Government has taken on board the specific importance of the honey
bee and the urgent need to tackle the problems surrounding honey bee
health.”
Stewart
Jackson was elected in May 2005 to represent the
Peterborough constituency in the House of Commons.
To find out more about him, his views and activities, visit his
website at
www.stewartjackson.org.uk
Peterborough UK
Community Website - February 2009
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