A horizon scan of future threats and opportunities for pollinators and pollination

Brown, Mark J. F., Dicks, Lynn V. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8304-4468, Paxton, Robert J., Baldock, Katherine C. R., Barron, Andrew B., Chauzat, Marie-Pierre, Freitas, Breno M., Goulson, Dave, Jepsen, Sarina, Kremen, Claire, Li, Jilian, Neumann, Peter, Pattemore, David E., Potts, Simon G., Schweiger, Oliver, Seymour, Colleen L. and Stout, Jane C. (2016) A horizon scan of future threats and opportunities for pollinators and pollination. PeerJ, 4. ISSN 2167-8359

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Abstract

Background. Pollinators, which provide the agriculturally and ecologically essential service of pollination are under threat at a global scale. Habitat loss and homogenisation, pesticides, parasites and pathogens, invasive species, and climate change have been identified as past and current threats to pollinators. Actions to mitigate these threats, e.g., agri-environment schemes and pesticide-use moratoriums, exist, but have largely been applied post-hoc. However, future sustainability of pollinators and the service they provide requires anticipation of potential threats and opportunities before they occur, enabling timely implementation of policy and practice to prevent, rather than mitigate, further pollinator declines.  Methods. Using a horizon scanning approach we identified issues that are likely to impact pollinators, either positively or negatively over the coming three decades.  Results. Our analysis highlights six high priority, and nine secondary issues. High priorities are: (1) corporate control of global agriculture, (2) novel systemic pesticides, (3) novel RNA viruses, (4) the development of new managed pollinators, (5) more frequent heatwaves and drought under climate change, and (6) the potential positive impact of reduced chemical use on pollinators in non-agricultural settings.  Discussion. While current pollinator management approaches are largely driven by mitigating past impacts, we present opportunities for pre-emptive practice, legislation, and policy to sustainably manage pollinators for future generations.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Distributed under Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0
Uncontrolled Keywords: horizon scanning,pollinator,pollination,ecosystem services,conservation,sdg 13 - climate action ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/climate_action
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences
University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
Related URLs:
Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 10 Oct 2016 15:00
Last Modified: 13 Apr 2023 13:50
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/60813
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2249

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