Abstract
The accumulating scientific evidence on global insect and pollinator decline is fuelling calls for pollinator conservation policies. A broad range of regulating and incentivising policies is undoubtedly needed to address the diverse threats to pollinator abundance and diversity, but implementing policies and regulations is beset by socio-political challenges. Lessons could be learned from the past and current applications of concepts central to biodiversity conservation. Given the uncertainties and data gaps, the concept of the Precautionary Principle (PP) is particularly important. The PP means that when it is scientifically plausible that human activities may lead to morally unacceptable harm, actions shall be taken to avoid or diminish that harm: uncertainty should not be an excuse to delay action. This paper reviews the role of the PP in pollinator conservation. The current research front is fragmented: the PP is briefly mentioned as relevant in literature on biodiversity conservation because of the scientific uncertainties regarding insect decline and their diverse drivers. A separate strand of literature contains studies on specific cases where the PP has played a role in the regulation of specific threats to pollinators: systemic insecticides and global trade in bees. Although limited to two significant threats to pollinator abundance and diversity, these studies provide important lessons on the challenges of implementing precautionary pollinator conservation policies and underline socio-political aspects of the 'human-dimensions' of pollinator conservation. Specifically, they highlight that ambiguity is a greater challenge than scientific uncertainty, which may be heightened when policies are intended to regulate specific economic sectors. We suggest that more attention should be paid to the discrepancy between the PP as formally included in policies or regulations and its inadequate implementation (too little too late) in a context of scientific uncertainty and societal conflict.
Highlights
Pollinator decline, and more broadly global insect decline, is increasingly recognised as an emerging global environmental risk urgently requiring an internationally coordinated and integrated policy response [1,2,3,4,5]
Studies on insect or pollinator conservation in the tradition of biodiversity conservation research sometimes mention the PP, but only briefly: the PP seem to be perceived as a general approach, mentioned in the context of our limited knowledge on insect species and biodiversity [22,27]
Often unrelated to that tradition, two strands of literature discuss how the PP has been evoked in the regulation of products and of practices that contribute to pollinator decline
Summary
Pollinator decline, and more broadly global insect decline, is increasingly recognised as an emerging global environmental risk urgently requiring an internationally coordinated and integrated policy response [1,2,3,4,5]. Compared to the myriad of threats that cause pollinator decline such as urbanisation, intensification of agriculture, the large-scale use of agrochemicals, deforestation, spreading of pathogens, climate change and invasive species [1,4,10,11]; we found that the PP as a legal and regulative principle was only mentioned explicitly in empirical studies on two of these threats These specific parts of the problems of presentday agriculture, environmental pollution and invasive alien species are referred to in the list of policies for pollinator conservation proposed by Dicks et al [12]. A holistic policy strategy for pollinator conservation and restoration where these solutions could fit in is outlined by Van der Sluijs and Vaage [1]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
