By Ibrahim Yakubu
The Patron, African Climate Reporters, Dr Yusuf Abdullahi Nadabo and other Nigerian scientists have expressed worry over the reduction in the rate of pollinators and the declining population of bees across African countries.
This, they note, might have negative impacts on food security and traditional plants for medicines across the region.
A new study has shown that about three trillion and 15.3 billion are cut-down-annually across the universe.
That loss has a huge significant implications for the planet in terms of climate change, biodiversity, human well-being, and other living organisms including flies and insects that pollinates the trees for the benefit of both plants animals and all the living organisms across the globe.
According to the scientists, the loss of pollinators is likely due to spread of hazardous chemicals, dwindling habitat, diseases, parasites, and environmental contaminants.
Stressing that many species of pollinators which include bees, flies, beetles, bats, butterflies and other insects face massive extinctions due to climate change, pollutions ,spreading of hazardous chemical ,environmental degradation and other human irrational activities.
Nadabo who stated this during a one day science journalism conference in Kaduna, said about 85% of the biotic pollinations were done by bee and other important flies that play a significant role in crops production and agricultural process for food security and health.
He Pointed out that, Pollinators are also a key part of the food web, as they contribute their quota through cross-pollination for food and crops production for growth for the survival of all living organisms.
Trees mortality is on the increase in African countries , as annual rate of falling down of trees increases in millions, making it extremely difficult for flies species and other pollinators to survive in the region due to increase disaster and other environmental factors.
A new study published in Nature estimates the planet has 3.04 trillion trees. The research says 15.3 billion trees are chopped down every year.
It also estimates that 46% of the world’s trees have been cleared over the past 12,000 years and all the forests across the world are endangered species.
‘Concern for pollinators is growing worldwide with increasing evidence that pollinators are in crisis due to increase air and water pollutions that is affecting their daily lives.
There would be a serious reduction in crops production as pollinators faces daily challenges which is affecting their lives, and there-by putting other species lives in dangers zone.
He said, bush-fire and natural disasters are number 1 biggest threat to the existence of bee and other pollinators species globally, stressing that its really high time to stop it.
(Bees make excellent pollinators because most of their life is spent collecting pollen, a source of protein that they feed to their developing offspring. Many plants require this kind of pollen distribution, known as cross-pollination, in order to produce viable seeds).
In a researched which he conducted some years ago, it revealed how Many species were force to migrate to other regions due to deforestation, desertification, bush burning, Timber exportation, firewood and charcoal business, and activities of some people capable of extracting natural resources in the forestry.
He note that climate change is expected to be a significant driver of species extinctions across the planet in the next 50 years and hence the need to joint hands with every one toward coming out with more strategies of saving lives of pollinators across the universe.
Tree mortality rates were significantly different based on tree size, condition, species, and Land use in each regions.
Furthermore, there is a clear evidence that global climate change impacts will only amplify the decline in pollinator populations, threatening ecosystem resilience and food security at local and global scales.
It must be noted that, any decline in the population of pollinators across the world is a great threat to the flowers and other herbs we used for medicine, fibre and culture as they play a significant role health aspect ,crops and food production.
The fact is that bees provide the majority of biotic pollination and play a critical role in food crop pollination adding that multiple factors are contributing to this growing problem including a changing climate.
(we are afraid that if care is not taking, there would not be available trees for medicine in few years to come, and hence the need to joint hands toward saving lives of all the bees and other flies species across the globe against going extinction).
Similarly, a Science-Climatologist from the Schools of health science and technology Kaduna Mr Nurudden been stressing the importance of pollinators for food and health aspect, as they also play vital role for the survival of human, plants and other living organism.
“More than 80 percent of the world’s flowering plants need a pollinator to reproduce; and we need pollinators too, since most of our food comes from flowering plants. One out of every three bites of our food, including fruits, vegetables, chocolate, coffee, nuts, and spices, is created with the help of pollinators.
“As trees die in increasing numbers due to fire, bark beetles and drought, the warmer and drier climate is making it much less likely that new tree seedlings can establish and replace the dead adult tree.
The scientists suggest ways to save pollinators against going extinctions across the globe.
The ways include Planting a Bee Garden. Planting more trees, building more homes for native bees, halt polluting the atmosphere with hazardous chemicals and the need for more policies toward protecting lives of all species.