Insect Declines | Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

Insect Declines and Why They Matter

Chris Atkinson

“We are witnessing the largest extinction event on earth since the dinosaurs”

Insects are dying out up to 8 times faster than larger animals.
41% of insect species face extinction.

It impacts all of us - insects pollinate three quarters of our food crops, as well as being the main food sources for many birds, small mammals and fish.

Loss of their habitat and overuse of pesticides are two of the major causes of this looming catastrophe.

It’s not too late to act.

Insect populations can recover, and we know what needs to be done to save them. By working together we can change the future of insects, starting right now

Read the Report

Insect Declines and Why They Matter

Why should we care?

Without insects many birds, bats, reptiles amphibians, small mammals and fish would die out as they would have nothing to eat.

87% of all plant species require animal pollination, most of it delivered by insects – that is pretty much all of them except grasses and conifers.

In addition, 3 out of 4 of all the crops that we grow require pollination by insects.

Only by working together can we address the causes of insect loss, halt and reverse them, and secure a sustainable future for insect life and for ourselves.

Together, we can stop this looming catastrophe and create an environment that is rich in nature for the benefit of wildlife and people.

What needs to happen?

We need more people on nature’s side. The choices you make and the actions you take can make a real difference to insects locally and help to create a wilder future. By creating ‘bug hubs’ at home you can contribute to a vital nature recovery network – a connected landscape of wildlife-friendly patches. By reducing pesticide use in your own garden, you can help insects to survive and thrive.

We also need Government and others to take action. We are calling for all political parties to back an ambitious Environment Act with the Nature Recovery Network at its heart. Make sure you ask your local candidates how they will help tackle the insect apocalypse and ecological crisis.

Ask your candidates whether they will back nature's recovery

Watch our Wilder Future short film with Sir David Attenborough explaining the importance of Nature Recovery Networks.