Apiarists say that the government did nothing to prevent this

Nov 6, 2008 06:51 GMT  ·  By

The United Kingdom is facing a slightly unusual problem – it would appear that the country's bee populations are dwindling, as a new petition from apiarists shows. The beekeepers say that about one third of their insects died last year, which could pose a significant threat to honey production, as well as to important sectors in the agriculture. The existing ecosystem could also be affected, as the bees no longer pollinate at their normal rate.  

The British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) gathered some 140,000 signatures from supporters, for a petition they sent to Downing Street today (October 6th). The document asks for about £8 million (around $12.7 million) in governmental funding, aimed at addressing the severe decline of bee hives throughout the country. The keepers fear that, as the causes for the decline are still unknown, there is nothing to prevent the bees from dying next year as well.  

"All the time we lose bees we are putting at risk the pollination work force. Whilst we appear to have got away with it so far, we will reap the whirlwind of the pollination deficit eventually unless something is done," said BBKA president, Tim Lovett.  

The absence of bees in the environment is catastrophic news for the ecosystem, as these insects play a crucial part in the food chain. They provide pollination for hundreds and hundreds of plants, which in turn produce food for herbivorous animals. They feed carnivorous animals and humans feed on those. These connections can be broken by something as simple as bee deaths.  

The effects on agriculture will also be far-reaching, as plants will no longer be able to crossbreed. The same applies to flowers too. The government, through its Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, announced that it was working on a 10-year long strategy, aimed at the recovery of bee populations. However, thus far apiarists received no money for this purpose, as no official funds were allotted.