The Trust has signed the Bee Coalition’s letter urging the UK Government to reject the National Farmers Union application to lift the ban on a class of pesticides that are shown to have a damaging effect on bees and other pollinators.

The NFU has applied for an emergency licence to apply neonicotinoid seed treatments to oilseed rape crops sown this autumn in England.  These chemicals are currently under an EU-wide ban because of the risk that they pose bees and other pollinators.  Research by independent scientists has continued to strengthen this evidence and raised further concerns that neonicotinoids could potentially harm other wildlife as well.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust believes that if the application is granted in England, it may only be a matter of time before the same request is made in Scotland  – which if granted by the Scottish Government would pose a huge risk to wild pollinators in Scotland.  The Scottish Wildlife Trust has campaigned for a permanent ban on the use of neonicotinoids on outdoor crops in Scotland because of their harmful effects on wild pollinators such as bumble bees, solitary bees and hoverflies.

Since the ban was put in place in December 2013, further research has added to the weight of evidence that the moratorium was the right decision. There is also a growing concern that aquatic life and soil organisms may be affected because these pesticides are persistent in the soil and are water soluble.

Head of Policy for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Dr Maggie Keegan, said: “There is very clear evidence that these toxic chemicals harm wild pollinators and honeybees. Pollination is vital for many Scottish crops and is estimated to be worth at least £43 million per year to Scotland’s economy.

“To continue to use chemicals which kill off these wonderful creatures that provide this free service is not a smart move and would be disastrous for pollinators, other wildlife and ultimately  farming ecosystems. The Scottish Wildlife Trust wants to see the Scottish Government ban neonicotinoids permanently and hopes the UK Government makes the same decision.”

To see the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s briefings on neonicotinoids please click here.

To read the Bee Coalition’s letter to in response to the NFU application follow this link.