Edge zones, pollinator strips and natural pastures are examples of good habitats for our insects. In recent years, Mære and Skjetlein have focused on what we can do to create more and better habitats for insects in particular and biodiversity in general. This will be an important initiative for us as nature schools.
Scientists and biologists have been concerned about the loss of biodiversity for many years. There is a lot of attention around this topic and the importance of insects and other microbes for natural diversity and food production. Researcher Francisco Sanchez-Bayo says in Biological Conservation: «If the loss of insects is not stopped, the consequences will be catastrophic for the planet’s ecosystems.» We are losing important insects associated with water systems. Several species that have their habitats in forests have disappeared or are threatened. Many species and insects associated with cultural landscapes and grazing have also disappeared.
The loss of biodiversity and insects is mainly due to three factors:
• Intensive agriculture
• Urbanization and habitat loss
• Global warming
To bring more focus to this topic, researchers have gone public to spread information about insects and biodiversity loss both online, through articles, publications and books. Website https://blogg.nmbu.no/insektokologene/ writes more about how insects live, how important they are to ecosystems and what we can do to take care of the different species.
In 2018, the government created a separate pollinator strategy to preserve living populations of wild bees and other pollinating insects in Norway. Agriculture can do a lot to contribute to more biodiversity and secure endangered species and insects. We can preserve edge zones, field islets, pastures and other extensive areas in the cultural landscape. Preservation and restoration of these important areas will be crucial to securing habitats for species and insects that are currently threatened.
Photo: Aina Bye
