CESECEM, the Economic, Social, Environmental, Cultural, and Educational Council of Martinique, has just published a new report on the role of pollinators and the best ways to protect them from the threats they face. The future of Martinique’s plant biodiversity depends on the future of pollinators—yet another reason to raise public awareness.
A vital part of the ecosystem
Pollinators are crucial to the development and survival of ecosystems: «They are responsible for the reproduction of most plants» through the process of zoogamy, according to CESECEM officials.
Despite their vital role in ecosystems—enabling plants to reproduce—it is common knowledge that pollinators are endangered.
«A landmark study measured a 76 % decline in the biomass of flying insects in protected areas in Germany over a 27-year period,»,
they point out.
As a reminder, the work of CESECEM—a dedicated institution in Martinique—aims to foster collective intelligence by gathering the views and opinions of the people of Martinique, and is organized around three pillars: informing, proposing, and taking action.
Taking Concrete Action to protect them
Protecting pollinators is the responsibility of every citizen, who must take concrete action. «Everyone has a role to play in providing shelter and food for pollinators in our gardens and on our patios, so that we can continue to enjoy our mangots, cinnamon apples, giraumons, and zucchini,» explain the authors of the CESECEM report, who propose a few solutions:
- Reduce pesticide use: They kill insects or impair their ability to find their way back to the hive
- Reducing land development: making room for soil and plants
- Preserve stumps and old trees: they provide shelter for many wildlife species
- Creating Hedges and Flower Beds: Planting Local Species to Provide Nectar and Pollen Year-Round
