Unipd research - Why do we love insects that pollinate?
12.06.2024
Honeybees aren’t the only insect pollinators. Flies, butterflies, and beetles also pollinate and, in Italy alone, there are around a thousand species of wild bees.
In recent years, interest in the conservation of pollinators has grown due to the concern raised by their decline which undermines their fundamental role in ecosystems: they transport pollen from the male to the female part of the flowers allowing the reproduction of most flowering plants.
The research paper Willingness of rural and urban citizens to undertake pollinator conservation actions across three contrasting European countries by Costanza Geppert, Cristiano Franceschinis, Thijs P.M. Fijen, David Kleijn, Jeroen Scheper, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, Mara Thiene, and Lorenzo Marini was published in People and Nature. Conducted by the scientific team led by the University of Padua of the DAFNAE and TESAF departments in collaboration with the Dutch University of Wageningen and the German University of Wuerzburg, the work investigates the socio-psychological factors influencing individual behaviour in favour of conservation interventions for pollinators in rural versus urban environments across Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. The study administered an online questionnaire and received 4541 respondents stratified by nationality, environment, age, and gender.
First author, researcher Costanza Geppert of the DAFNA explains,
“Our results show that people intend to protect pollinators when a moral obligation arises in them. This moral obligation is activated when one has knowledge of the role of pollinators in ecosystems and when one feels partially responsible for their decline. Other important elements show that the belief that one's behavior have a concrete effect on the conservation of pollinators and the approval of one's social context, family, or social media that push individuals to protect bees, butterflies, and flies.”
Last author, Prof Lorenzo Marini of the DAFNA explains,
“Other important results include the potential commitment of individuals to the conservation of pollinating insects does not depend on nationality, age, level of education, gender, or coming from urban or rural areas.”
The study indicates that in all three countries in the sample (Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands) the most appreciated conservation action was that of planting flowers rich in nectar and pollen, while one of the most difficult to adopt was participation in monitoring of bees, butterflies, and flies. This result may be because growing flowers is connected to the widespread and beloved practice of gardening while participating in pollinator monitoring requires the acquisition of a series of new skills and tools that make it more difficult to implement.
This research has also identified several practical recommendations that can significantly contribute to pollinator conservation. One of the key recommendations is to prioritize raising awareness of the crucial role of pollinators and outdoor experiences that foster a sense of connection and appreciation for these insects.
Costanza Geppert and Lorenzo Marini conclude,
“Our results indicate that those who frequently participate in nature-related outdoor activities such as hiking, wildlife observation, or gardening are particularly inclined to offer their support to pollinators. This suggests that encouraging and facilitating such experiences may be an effective way to actively engage the public in pollinator conservation, especially during childhood. It is important to underline that these strategies – conclude the authors – are not limited to specific contexts but can be successfully adapted and implemented in a variety of socio-cultural and economic contexts. From rural communities to urban metropolises, adopting these practices can significantly contribute to the protection of pollinators.”
You too can help pollinators by following these nine actions.
- Support and/or accept national, regional, or municipal policies that provide for the protection of pollinators.
- Sign petitions that aim to preserve the diversity of pollinators.
- Participate in donations to organizations that deal with the protection of pollinators.
- Purchase agricultural products with limited use of pesticides.
- Read newsletters, magazines, or other publications about combating the decline of pollinators.
- Install a hotel for wild bees in the garden or on the balcony, i.e. a wooden house with holes of different sizes that shelter them.
- Grow flowering plants rich in nutrients for pollinating insects in your garden/terrace/windowsill.
- Encourage others to take an interest in the reasons for the decline in pollinators.
- Participate in pollinator monitoring activities with voluntary organizations to understand how severe the impacts are on ecosystems.
