Abstract
Pollination services, from both wild and managed populations of insect pollinators, have degraded as a result of agricultural intensification. Whilst 75% of economically important crops depend on insect pollinators for cultivation, 40% of insect pollinator species are threatened with extinction. Pollination services must be preserved if there is to be enough food for a global population whose demand is expected to double, if not triple, by 2050. Pollinator diversity and pollinator efficiency have been found to increase as a result of wildlife-friendly farming practices (i.e., natural chemicals and fertilizers and agroforestry). We evaluated the presence of insect pollinators in 42 coffee home gardens in West Java, Indonesia. Via generalized linear mixed models, we found that number of visitor species (β = 0.418 ± SE 0.194, p = 0.031) and visitation time (β = 0.845 ± SE 0.308, p = 0.006) decreased as farms were more intensely managed, (i.e., used chemical pesticides), compared to fields using organic practices. As knowledge of pollination services is widespread amongst smallholder farmers in Indonesia and beyond due to the long-held tradition of beekeeping, these results will add to their existing knowledge and empower farmers to enhance resources for pollinator species through agroforestry and natural pest management. Although we found significant differences in pollination services provided in intensely managed and wildlife-friendly farms, chemical use can affect farms far beyond a particular area of production. Therefore, pollinator conservation must be applied at a landscape level and involve all stakeholders, including farmers, when making effective policies.
Highlights
As of 75% of economically important food crops depend on insect pollinators for reproduction purposes [1]
We found that pollinator visitation time was significantly affected by farming intensity, with decreased pollinator visitation times in farms that used a mix of chemicals and organic practices and further decreased pollinator visitation times in farms that used
We found that pollinator visitation time was significantly affected by farming intensity, with decreased pollinator visitation times in farms that used a mix of chemicals and organic practices and further decreased pollinator visitation times in farms that used exclusively chemicals
Summary
75% of economically important food crops depend on insect pollinators for reproduction purposes [1]. In order to ensure that enough food is produced for a growing population, and produced equitably, over the last century there has been a global shift from traditional, organic farming practices to intensive agriculture that maximizes production [5]. This intensification comprised the use of chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, the creation of monocultures, and the management of pollination services [6]. Both wild and managed pollinators have suffered throughout this transition to intensive agriculture, with 40% of invertebrate pollinators at risk of extinction [7]
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