[Pollinator] Groups recommend the EPA takes action to protect bees

Tue Jan 25 09:01:52 PST 2011

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           *GROUPS RECOMMEND THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TAKE
SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS TO PROTECT BEES FROM PESTICIDES*

*
Conservation and beekeeping groups cautiously optimistic about pesticide
conference*

* *

*Contacts:*

* *

*Mace Vaughan, The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation:
503-232-6639,*

*mace at xerces.org*

* *

*Zac Browning, American Beekeeping Federation: 208-523-3692,*

*z_browning at msn.com*

  PENSACOLA, Fla. (January 24, 2011) - Last week representatives from the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the pesticide industry met
with university researchers, conservationists and beekeeping groups in
Florida to discuss the way that pesticide risks to bees are evaluated. The
conference, which was organized by the Society for Environmental Toxicology
and Chemistry (SETAC), is considered by U.S. government agencies and
industry-watchers to be the first step in evaluating whether current
guidelines on measuring pesticide toxicity are effective.

Currently, the EPA only evaluates pesticide toxicity to honey bees, while
bumble bees and other crop-pollinating bee species are given no
consideration. Beekeeping groups have also questioned the validity of the
existing honey bee hazard evaluation process in the U.S., and have pushed
the agency to develop stricter standards in the wake of highly publicized
bee deaths. Previous SETAC conferences have reviewed the pesticide risk
standards to wildlife such as fish and birds, resulting in more stringent
requirements on the part of manufacturers. This was the first SETAC
conference focused specifically on bees.

"We are generally pleased with the increased intensity of pesticide
screening that was discussed, as well as the inclusion of non-honey bee
species in the testing process," said Mace Vaughan, Pollinator Program
Director at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, who attended
the conference. "We hope that this will lead the EPA to adopt more thorough
risk management strategies for pollinators."

Pollinators have been the focus of several conservation initiatives
spearheaded by the Xerces Society and beekeeping groups in recent years, who
point out that the ecological service bees, butterflies and other
pollinators provide is necessary for the reproduction of more than 70
percent of the world's plants. This includes two-thirds of the world's crop
species, whose fruits and seeds together provide over thirty percent of the
foods that we consume. Dramatic declines of both wild and domesticated bees
have resulted in a growing awareness of threats such as habitat loss,
diseases and pesticide use.

"It is vitally important that the EPA better address the impact that these
toxic substances have on honey bees and native bees," said Zac Browning of
the American Beekeeping Federation, who also attended the conference.
"Adoption of the final recommendations from this workshop, which are
expected in the next several months, is a good first step. But much more
will need to be done to truly protect these important pollinators."

In the U.S. alone, more than 1.2 billion pounds of pesticides are applied
annually. Penn State researchers have identified traces of more than eighty
different pesticide products in nearly all honey bee hives they examine,
with several of these compounds being implicated in bee deaths.

*The Xerces Society and the American Beekeeping Federation recommend that
the EPA:*

   - Adopt a strong risk assessment strategy for both honey bees and native
   bees based on the information developed at the conference.
   - Conduct a robust review of neonicitinoid pesticides, which have been
   implicated in bee deaths.
   - Develop better labeling so that consumers can easily determine which
   pesticides are most toxic to bees and understand how to use the pesticides
   while limiting risk to pollinators.

*ABOUT THE XERCES SOCIETY*

The Xerces Society is a nonprofit organization that protects wildlife
through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat. Established in
1971, the Society is at the forefront of invertebrate protection worldwide,
harnessing the knowledge of scientists and the enthusiasm of citizens to
implement conservation programs. To learn more about our work or to donate
to the Society, please visit
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*PHOTO CREDIT*

Female *Osmia aglaia *on black raspberry. Photo by Mace Vaughan, the Xerces
Society.

The Xerces Society · 4828 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Portland, Oregon 97215 USA ·
tel 503.232.6639
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