Climate change is not just a buzzword; it’s a stark reality that is posing a grave threat to our ecosystem. The delicate balance of nature is being disrupted, leading to dire consequences for crucial pollinators like bees, butterflies, bats, and other insects. These unsung heroes play a vital role in our lives by pollinating plants that bear fruits, vegetables, nuts, coffee, and medicinal herbs.
At a recent science journalism conference in Kaduna, Nigeria, Dr. Yusuf Abdullahi Nadabo and other esteemed scientists sounded the alarm bells about the alarming decline of pollinators across Africa.
“About 85% of pollination in nature is performed by bees and other insects,”
Dr. Nadabo emphasized. Their dwindling numbers are primarily attributed to climate change-induced factors such as deforestation, pollution, and habitat destruction.
A study published in Nature painted a grim picture of our planet’s tree cover. While Earth hosts approximately 3.04 trillion trees, over 15 billion are felled annually. Furthermore,
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Nearly half of the planet’s original forest cover has vanished within the last 12 millennia.”
This rampant deforestation coupled with bushfires and harmful chemicals spells disaster for these essential pollinators.
The consequences are far-reaching; without adequate pollination,
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Food production would plummet, impacting human nutrition and economic stability,”
highlighted Mr. Nuruddeen from the School of Health Science and Technology in Kaduna. In fact,
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One in every three bites of food we take depends on the work of pollinators.”
Various factors have been identified as contributing to the decline of these invaluable creatures:
- Excessive use of pesticides
- Habitat destruction from logging and urban sprawl
- Diseases and parasites
- Climate-related events like droughts
Dr. Nadabo stressed urgent action to reverse this dangerous trend. Solutions proposed include planting more trees to restore habitats for pollinators,
“Creating environments hospitable to these crucial species can help mitigate their decline,”
said Dr. Nadabo at the conference.
as reported by “https://africanclimatereporter.com/2025/05/06/scientists-warn-of-medicine-shortages-as-bees-and-other-pollinators-face-extinction-from-climate-change/”
>African Climate Reporters.
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