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 latest Report
Reversing the Decline of Insects
Read the first Report
Why should we care?
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.
Sign up to Team Wilder to help insects
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.

Wilder 2030
Our new strategy will focus on achieving our connected goals:
- more people on nature’s side
- more space for wildlife to thrive
- reduced pressure on the environment

Can you help create a wilder Hampshire & Isle of Wight
Together our local actions form part of the collective national and global effort for a better, wilder future.
We need many more people on nature’s side, otherwise we cannot hope to put nature into recovery.

This is and has to be a joint effort.
Together our local actions in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight form part of the collective national and global effort for a better, wilder future.
Read more about the issues facing our environment
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© The Wildlife Trusts
“ Every space in Britain must be used to help wildlife” Sir David Attenborough
Let us know if you want to take Action for Insects
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