Review: "2nd Insect Day Switzerland"
More than 300 people from research, politics, business and nature conservation sought measures against insect mortality at the "2nd Day of Insects Switzerland". At the event organized by BirdLife Switzerland and Insect Respect, participants discussed how words can be followed by concrete action.
On the "2nd Insect Day Switzerland" one was informed about the serious insect loss in Switzerland as well as in neighboring countries. The amount and diversity of insects has drastically decreased in the last decades. Edward Wilson, the renowned American entomologist, has calculated that humans could survive only a few months without insects. But the number and diversity of insects are decreasing dramatically:
In Switzerland, Red Lists show that over 40 percent of insect species are endangered and 5 percent are already extinct. In some German-speaking areas, their numbers have declined by over 70 percent. The reasons are manifold, as the experts also emphasized at the "2nd Insect Day Switzerland" on September 19, 2019 in Aarau: On the one hand, more and more insects are disappearing from our landscape due to intensive agriculture; on the other hand, increasing overbuilding and fragmentation of habitats are leading to massive insect mortality.
Disproportionate fertilization
Prof. Dr. Josef H. Reichholf, keynote speaker on Insect Day and butterfly expert from Bavaria, stated in his presentation: "Nitrogen fertilizer has become the suffocating substance of biodiversity in cultivated land. Plant protection products decimate insects in addition, just as also our massively exaggerated cleanliness mania." In many places, this leads to insect-rich roadsides being mowed at inopportune times or public areas being sprayed with poison.
Ulrich Veith, mayor of the municipality of Mals in South Tyrol, gave an encouraging speech and showed how it could also be possible in Switzerland to make cultivated land more insect-friendly again. "We didn't want to wait until something came from the high politicians to protect nature and insects, but to do something within the municipality itself." Despite a lot of headwind, Mals has now succeeded, with the support of the local population, in legally banning the use of pesticides on all agricultural and private land in the municipality. Today, organic products of all kinds are finding ever greater sales there.
Deeds instead of words
In order to highlight not only problems but also solutions, the participants discussed various measures in workshops on how insects can best be promoted. In almost all workshops, it emerged that the first step should be to create better access to insects, for example by actually seeing or experiencing their beauty and diversity.
The two organizers BirdLife Switzerland and Insect Respect are pleased with how the conference went. Werner Müller, Executive Director of BirdLife Switzerland: "Informing, networking and acting, that's what Insect Day is all about. We are convinced that many new projects will now be launched to defy insect mortality." Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus, Managing Director of the biocide company Reckhaus AG and initiator of Insect Respect, is also convinced that the conference has not only inspired reflection but also action: "Respect does not stop with two- or four-legged friends. Anyone who still sprays their garden now has understood nothing."
Politics is called for
However, a change in thinking and action is not only required of each individual on a small scale. After this conference, it is not least the politicians who are called upon. Or to put it in the words of Prof. Dr. Josef H. Reichholf: "The Day of Insects is particularly important to me because it introduces essential facts into the current discussions. The ever-new facts surrounding insect decline must now enter the political arena." With agricultural policy AP22+, the drinking water and pesticide initiative, the revision of the spatial planning law and the upcoming double initiative for biodiversity and landscape, a lot has been set in motion. This must be used to counteract insect mortality.
Ten good reasons to respect insects:
1. ecosystem: insects give nature more resilience.
2. pollination: insects keep the plant world alive.
3rd cycle: Insects are an important part of the food chain.
4. forage and food: Insects secure the world's food supply.
5. hygiene: insects rid us of "garbage".
6. soils: insects make our earth fertile.
7. clothing: Insects are indispensable for textile production.
8. industry: insects produce chemicals.
Medicine 9: Cure insects.
10. research: insects are extremely valuable scientifically.
www.birdlife.ch/tag-der-insekten
