Recommendations & Conclusions
11 items
6
Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and UK f…
Acknowledged
While pollinators play a crucial role in ensuring UK food security, it is essential to recognise that insects and invertebrates play more than this one role in supporting food production. Diverse species are essential for preserving ecosystems, and their populations require careful nurturing and maintenance to support sustainable and resilient …
Government response. The government agrees on the importance of diverse invertebrates, noting current efforts like reviewing the Pollinator Strategy, including invertebrate provisions in ELMS, and delivering Environment Act targets that will benefit various invertebrate groups.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
7
Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and UK f…
Acknowledged
We commend the success of the National Pollinator Strategy and eagerly await the 2025–2035 update that we expect to be published by September 2024. There is scope to build on the work of the strategy by creating a complementary ‘National Invertebrate Strategy’ that would include provisions for invertebrates that carry …
Government response. The government agrees on the importance of invertebrates and states that provisions will be included in new Environmental Land Management schemes and existing Environment Act targets will deliver benefits. However, it does not commit to creating a new, dedicated 'National …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
15
Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and UK f…
Acknowledged
We commend the often-overlooked contributions of amateur entomologists, ranging from unpaid species experts to members of the public involved in citizen science initiatives. While the collection of insect monitoring data remains invaluable for entomology, citizen science projects serve a broader purpose. We agree with the perspective of conservation experts, acknowledging …
Government response. The government acknowledges the importance of inclusivity in green sectors and citizen science for biodiversity targets, citing initiatives like the Green Jobs Delivery Group, the Natural History GCSE, the National Education Nature Park, and £2.5m funding to connect disadvantaged young …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
17
Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and UK f…
Acknowledged
Witnesses to this Inquiry have told us that within the UK, land use change, land management practices and pesticide usage are amongst the largest contributing factors to insect decline. Consequently, the largest influence on achieving the biodiversity targets for insect species outlined in the 2021 Environment Act, could lie in …
Government response. The government implicitly agrees by detailing ongoing efforts like reviewing the Pollinator Strategy, including invertebrate provisions in ELMS with premium payments for high-priority actions, and delivering Environment Act targets for species abundance and extinction, all of which address the impact …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
23
Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and UK f…
Acknowledged
The statutory targets to halt and reverse species extinction and decline in abundance are ambitious and welcome. However, the exclusion of numerous invertebrate species and in some cases entire groups from the baseline metrics, particularly those vital for UK food security such as predatory beetles, is concerning. Including only 11 …
Government response. Defra acknowledges the committee's concern regarding the exclusion of numerous invertebrate species from biodiversity metrics, explaining that taxonomic coverage is limited by data availability, and states it is continuing to assess how to improve indicators and is preparing new Red …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
27
Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and UK f…
Acknowledged
The UK has made international commitments to reducing the overall risk caused by pesticides by at least half by 2030. Whilst we acknowledge that updating the National Action Plan for Sustainable Pesticide Use, the UK implementation plan to achieve these commitments, is a substantial task for the Government, this does …
Government response. The government acknowledges the complexity and delay in publishing the National Action Plan for Sustainable Pesticide Use, but states they are working on it and have not waited to implement other measures, such as paid IPM actions within the SFI …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
29
Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and UK f…
Acknowledged
The impact of pesticides on insect species that are not pollinators remains not fully known due to the lack of data on pesticide accumulation in terrestrial environments and specific details of pesticide applications on managed land.
Government response. Defra acknowledges the lack of full understanding of pesticide impact, stating it funds projects to monitor effects on wildlife, supports recommendations for terrestrial environmental monitoring, funds honey sample analysis, and will continue monitoring pesticides while working to improve the Pesticide …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
30
Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and UK f…
Acknowledged
The Government should outline how the ‘Proposals for Terrestrial Environmental Monitoring of Plant Protectant Products’ will be incorporated into the National Action Plan for Sustainable Pesticide Use. Furthermore, the Government should consider how it could use its powers to increase respondents to the Fera’s pesticide usage survey.
Government response. Defra states it already supports recommendations from the 'Proposals for Terrestrial Environmental Monitoring' report and is working with the regulator to identify improvements for the Pesticide Usage Survey, but does not explicitly outline how the proposals will be incorporated into …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
31
Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and UK f…
Acknowledged
Pesticide use by amenity and amateur sectors in urban and suburban areas does not benefit UK food production and can have adverse effects on many insect species.
Government response. The government acknowledges the issues with pesticide use in amenity and amateur sectors, noting it is for local authorities to decide on weed control, and states it is commissioning research into integrated pest management for amenity use and considering options …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
33
Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and UK f…
Acknowledged
While a contentious debate exists between nature conservation groups and agriculturalists regarding the use of conventional pesticides, both sides acknowledge the importance of developing new solutions, emphasising the need for increased investment in practical research and development. The regulatory system’s failure to distinguish between conventional chemicals and alternative plant protection …
Government response. The government acknowledges the conclusion, restating its priority for pesticide safety and existing science-based regulatory processes, including ongoing monitoring. It highlights advances in targeted application technologies but does not commit to streamlining the regulatory system or distinguishing between conventional and …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
34
Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and UK f…
Acknowledged
The Government should adopt an evidence-based strategy in formulating pesticide legislation, promoting the development of new plant pesticides with heightened target specificity. This approach would aim to mitigate the dual risks of pest resistance development and adverse off-target effects on beneficial insects. Any alterations to the regulatory framework should include …
Government response. The government acknowledges the recommendation, reiterating its priority for pesticide safety and its existing science-based regulatory regime, including ongoing monitoring through the H4 indicator program. While it notes advances in targeted application technologies, it does not outline specific new commitments …
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology