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DISCUSSION No. 131   •   FSN Forum digest No. 1253


How can we protect pollinators and promote their role in environmental and agricultural practices?

until 9 September 2016





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Dear Members,
The discussion How can we protect pollinators and promote their role in environmental and agricultural practices?<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/activities/discussions/pollination> attracted the first comments which we share below.
Worldwide, the 'pollinator crisis' has caused great concerns given the importance of pollination for food production, nutrition and livelihoods. Human activity has played a significant role in this process by increasing the demand for pollinators, while simultaneously removing their habitat.
Your input to this discussion will help us take stock of the challenges pollinators are facing and of ways to protect them, and consequently their central role in the production of (nutritious) food. A summary brief of your comments will be widely circulated in order to raise awareness and inspire further debates on this topic.
Please read more on the discussion webpage<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/activities/discussions/pollination>, also available in French<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/fr/activities/discussions/pollination> and Spanish<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/es/activities/discussions/pollination>.
We look forward to keep receiving your comments.
Your FSN Forum team







CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED

[icon]Demetrio Miguel Castillo Espinosa, Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago, Dominican Republic

Demetrio stresses that many families that depend on honey production for their livelihoods have had to migrate due to the disappearance of flowers and declining bee populations in areas where honey has traditionally been produced.
Read the contribution <http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7351>



[icon]Emile Houngbo, Agricultural University of Ketou, Benin

Emile argues that agro-ecological farming systems and the use of biological pesticides such as the aqueous extract of Hyptis suaveolens leaves and neem seed oil should be encouraged. Attention should also be paid to plants that provide many flowers, like pulses, the Asteraceae family, and in particular the Tridax procumbens.
Read the contribution<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7352>



[icon]Vethaiya Balasubramanian, Freelance consultant, India

Vethaiya mentions the example of almond farmers in California, who increasingly have to import honeybees for the pollination of almond flowers. He also points to various measures that can be taken to improve on-farm biodiversity, like allowing broadleaf weeds and leguminous plants to grow in field boundaries.
Read the contribution<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7353>



[icon]Dhanya Praveen, Environment Protection Training and Research Institute, Hyderabad, India

Dhanya shares the case of farmers in Tamil Nadu and Andra Pradesh, South India, who have been confronted with pollinator declines due to dry spells, extreme weather conditions, and pesticide use. In responding to these threats, the farmers have adopted intercropping with sesame, peanuts, and long beans. In addition, Dhanya highlights the need for more research on the impact of climate change on pollinator populations.
Read the contribution<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7354>



[icon]Kafui Appiah, Honey for Wealth Beekeepers Association, Ghana

Kafui informs us that he is currently working on the development of beehives of non-wood materials in order to reduce tree cutting for beehives production.
Read the contribution<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7356>



[icon]Mithare Prasad, India

Mithare proposes various methods to help protect pollinator populations, including incorporating yellow flowers in production systems, avoiding burning crop residues in the field, and planting forest tree species at field borders, so that honey bees are likely to construct their hives at higher altitudes on tree branches.
Read the contribution<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7357>





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