Poison Free
Unintended Victims of Poisons
Bees
Birds
"The illegal killing of birds with poisoned baits and their accidental deaths from pesticides occurs on a global scale: Tens of millions have died, leading to a decline in numerous species’ populations."
"Birds of prey are targeted with poison baits if they are seen as predators by racing-pigeon enthusiasts, gamekeepers, livestock farmers, poultry farmers and fishermen. But what’s worse is that many times the birds are not even the intended target. They are often also accidental victims of pesticides targeted at mammalian predators (such as rodents, feral cats and foxes) and insects by farmers to protect livestock and harvests."
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"Between 2009 and 2011 in Norway, 70% of Golden Eagles and 50% of Eurasian Eagle Owls had ingested anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs, the most widely used). In 2010, ARs were detected in 90% of Barn Owls, Red Kites and kestrels in the UK and 44% of Red Kites in France. Sub-lethal exposure to rodenticides can hinder the recovery of birds of prey from non-fatal collisions and cause lethargy, which impairs their hunting ability and increases the risk that they will starve." (maybe break this into graph form?) - Bird Life: Meet Pesticides, Silent Bird Killers Protect Our Crops
Fungus
Our soil and plants rely on healthy, beneficial fungi to help them transport and aborb vital nutrients. Soil without these beneficial species ends up suffering increased nutrient loss which turns into run off and water pollution when we accidentally kill them off with pesticides, herbi
Humans
Farmers
Solutions
Non-Lethal Pest Control
All over the world people are coming up with and improving non-lethal pest control solutions from putting cloth over crops to a variety of ways to deter wolves and elephants from crops and livestock.
Bee-Safe Nursery Plants
Be Kind
To Wild Allies
Many wild animals will happily feest on the pests you want to avoid. Insectivores, birds, amphibians, and even predatory insects will munch on your bugs including slugs and snails.
To Apex Predators
Science and history have shown repeatedly that persecution of apex predators creates unforeseen ripples down the entire food chain, including:
Mesopredator Release the phenomenon where other predators and omnivores further down the food chain begin to get out of control, even wiping out local species, attacking humans, destroying crops, and so on. This alone has caused societies around the world billions in damages, crop failures, and loss of lives.
Herbivore Population Explosions When apex predators are killed off, and macropredators can't take their place, this can allow larger herbivores to overpopulate an area, consuming more plants, moss, etc. than the environment can produce. This has led to starvation events, increased disease transmission, and even extinctions of certain species including the plants, lichens, etc. that once supported those ecosystems.
Soil Microbes have been found to change when apex predators are no longer present, meaning soils are less healthy and biodiverse than soils where the entire eco-system remains intact.
Organizations
Europe
Pesticide Action Network Europe "PAN Europe's vision is of a world in which agricultural productivity is achieved by truly sustainable agricultural production systems in which agrochemical inputs and environmental damage are minimised, and where local people control local production using local varieties. PAN Europe strives to eliminate hazardous pesticides in Europe, reduce dependency on pesticides, and promote ecologically sound alternatives to chemical pest control.
In order to achieve this vision, PAN Europe carries out advocacy, policy analysis, networking and campaigning activities on pesticides. It serves as the focal point for NGO advocacy and public participation in EU pesticide policy and work closely with representatives of the European Parliament, the Commission, and the Council to engage key decision-makers in reducing the use of hazardous pesticides. Our initiatives also include working with farmers, scientists, academics, retailers and trades unions."
