Butterfly Conservation calls to ban toxic pesticide
by Butterfly Conservation
Toxic neonicotinoid pesticides have once again been authorised for use on sugar beet crops by the UK Government.
Butterfly Conservation has repeatedly highlighted concerns about the negative side effects these pesticides have on UK butterflies. First highlighted in 2015 in a study by the Universities of Stirling and Sussex in partnership with Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, further evidence has shown the impact of neonicotinoids on not only moths and butterflies, but also bees, birds and other wildlife.
In 2017 Michael Gove, the then Environment Secretary, announced that the UK would support a total ban across the European Union as we couldn’t “afford to put pollinators at risk”. The pesticide is now almost entirely banned across the EU because of the known harm it can cause. But this Government has granted permission for the use of these poisonous neonicotinoids for the third year running
Butterfly Conservation’s State of the UK’s Butterflies report revealed that 80% of butterflies have declined since the 1970s. There can be no excuse for continuing to use pesticides that are known to cause harm to butterflies and moths. Butterfly Conservation, along with other environmental organisations, is calling for neonicotinoids to be banned with no exceptions.
The thoughts of Julie Williams - Butterfly Conservation CEO
Julie Williams, Butterfly Conservation CEO said: "The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, and it is simply unacceptable for the Government to allow the demonstrable harm of pollinators and other wildlife at a time when nature is already in crisis.
"The time has come for neonicotinoids to be completely banned with no exception. We should be thinking about these pesticides in the same way we think about DDT. They are a group of chemicals which are simply too toxic and too damaging to use in any circumstances."
Together, we can make a stand, sign the petition against the authorisation of neonicotinoids. Once this has gained 100,000 signatures the Government must debate this in parliament so there is still time to reverse the decision.
25 April 2023
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