Representatives from 68 governmental and non-governmental organisations have come together to address the growing pollinator crisis in Ireland.
The All Ireland Pollinator Plan will address the ongoing reduction of pollinators nationwide in an attempt to reduce the numbers of bees being destroyed each year.
The plan aims to outline 81 simple actions with can be undertaken and performed by farmers and owners of public and private land to ensure the future of pollinators such as bees.
These actions encourage farmers to use pesticides responsibly, urge the public to make gardens and public areas pollinator friendly through the introduction of wild flowers and hive houses and they also entail the creation of pollinator highways through busy areas.
This global crisis has been caused by the vast reduction of wildflower habitats and also through the use peticides and disease controlling chemicals which cause pollinators to die or starve.
Globally the food production industry is worth over €153 billion and in Ireland alone it is worth €53 million. This industry is entirely dependant on the continued existence of pollinators.
It is reported that of the 98 species of bee in Ireland, 1/3 are currently facing extinction.
Ireland will be one of the first countries in the EU to address this growing crisis.