According to recent studies, 75% of the world’s flying insect population have died out, spelling bad news for eco systems and humans alike. Thanks to increased use of pesticides and climate change, there are warnings of an ‘insect armageddon’.
“Insects make up about two-thirds of all life on Earth [but] there has been some kind of horrific decline.” Professor Dave Goulson of Sussex University, speaking to The Guardian.
Why Pestival
Bugs aren’t here to bug us: we need them to survive. The global insect population has declined by 45% over the last 40 years* and an estimated £170bn to £415bn worth of annual global food production is on the line.**
Without insects, quite simply, we wouldn’t be here.
Windscreen Phenomenon
For proof of this insect decline nearer home, take a look at your front car window during a sunny day trip. Where once our windscreens would be caked in unlucky bugs, our windows now remain largely clear. But it’s not down to natural evolution. With aggressive agriculture, insecticides and use of pesticides, the humans are to blame.
Bob and Roberta Smith’s large scale signage outside The Southbank Centre, Pestival
The little guys
Our mission is to inspire a new generation of ambassadors to think and act in the greater interest of our shared environment; to raise awareness for the big impact of the little guys and inspire active change.
What can I do?
From building beehives in our back gardens, to making sure we’re recycling, to simply not killing the helpful little bugs we come across, we can help the insects (and ourselves) thrive. We can spread the word and pledge our allegiance to insects.
What can Pestival do?
By shining a spotlight on the crucial importance of so called ‘creepy crawlies’, we hope people will be motivated to help the insect population grow. We want to MAKE MORE with your help and reverse the insect decline across the globe. Pestival needs you. Join the 2020 Make More insects challenge here.
Read more about the worrying statistics and their terrifying impact on society.
* Dirzo, R. et al. (July 2014). Defaunation in the Anthropocene. Science, 345, 401-406.
** Potts, S.G., Imperatriz-Fonseca, V.L. & Ngo, H.T. (2016). The Assessment Report on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production, The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
Insects make up about two-thirds of all life on Earth [but] there has been some kind of horrific decline.
Professor Dave Goulson | The Guardian