Pollinator Welfare: Bees, Butterflies, and the Ecosystem Services They Provide

Pollinators including bees and butterflies face threats from pesticides, habitat loss, and disease, with welfare and ecosystem service implications for both animals and food production.

Key Facts

Around 87 percent of flowering plant species depend on animal pollinators for reproduction
Honeybee colony losses of 30-40 percent per year have been recorded in the US since 2006
Neonicotinoid pesticides are linked to honeybee navigation impairment, colony collapse, and mortality
Wild bumblebee populations have declined by up to 70 percent in parts of Europe and North America
Pollinator-friendly farming includes wildflower strips, reduced pesticide use, and hedgerow management
The EU partially restricted neonicotinoid use in 2018 with outdoor use banned in most applications

Welfare Considerations

Pollinators provide essential ecosystem services but also have welfare interests of their own. Pesticide poisoning causes neurological damage and impaired navigation — forms of suffering for sentient insects. Habitat loss starves pollinator colonies. Welfare and conservation arguments align on the case for pesticide reduction and habitat restoration to support pollinator populations.

What You Can Do

Plant pollinator-friendly flowers in gardens and window boxes
Advocate for neonicotinoid pesticide bans or restrictions in your jurisdiction
Support organic farming which avoids systemic pesticides harmful to pollinators
Join local pollinator monitoring schemes to contribute to citizen science data
Support the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and similar organisations working on pollinator recovery