Saving the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee

It is a fact that in the modern world, there has been an increase in the number of endangered and extinct species of animals, plants, and insects. This has come about mainly as a consequence of human activities, which have made it extremely difficult for local ecosystems to survive or function efficiently. It is essential to note that in the modern world, cases of endangered species have become so common that there are efforts aimed at reversing this trend. One of the most significant of the species that are endangered in the modern world are the local populations of bumblebees, which are extremely pertinent to the sustenance of the native plant species. The introduction of foreign species of bumblebees, which are rapidly taking over the natural habitat of the native species has essentially reduced the range of the latter to such an extent that they are losing the competition for resources. This consideration is pertinent to the conservation effort because it shows the manner through which commercial activities have ended up creating a negative environment for native bumblebee species. This post addresses the efforts aimed at saving the rusty-patched bumblebee and the methods that can be used to make this process possible.

It is currently a well-known fact that numerous bumblebee species native to North America are under threat of extinction. A diversity of hypotheses have been brought forwards to explain the reasons behind this regression among which is the restructuration of agriculture; a process that involves the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers in crops, especially legumes. Additionally, there has been the suggestion that the fragmentation of land has also played a role in the promotion of the regression of various bumblebee species because this process is one that affects wide areas across the continent. Also, there has been the consideration of the role of climate change in sealing the fate of bumblebees to such an extent that these species have essentially come to be devastated by the activities of man as the latter release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Thus, lower numbers of bumblebees have been seen in recent years and the fact that some species are no longer being seen is a matter of concern which has to be addressed through effective action aimed at saving the native bumblebee species. These efforts have the potential of making sure that the rusty patched bumblebee, which is responsible for the pollination of most of the crops across the United States, is saved from extinction.

One of the most important steps that can be taken in the process of saving the rusty patched bumblebee is the reduction of the use of harmful pesticides. This is extremely important because bumblebees tend to end up being victims of scenarios where pesticides kill large numbers of them; resulting in the reduction of their population. Bumblebees are especially prominent when it comes to the manner through which native plants are pollinated. Therefore, they are necessary when it comes to the maintenance of agricultural productivity as well as the promotion of ecosystems that are healthy. The reduction of pesticide use can be extremely beneficial for this species because it provides them with the means through which to gain a stable food supply while at the same time making sure that they conduct their natural functions. Furthermore, the survival of the bumblebee, as a native species, has the advantage of making sure that native plant life is also made sustainable to such an extent that they are also saved from extinction. However, in order to ensure that there is the effective achievement of pesticide reduction in agricultural production, there is the need for there to be strict federal regulations aimed at providing protection for the rusty patched bumblebee species to such an extent that their survival is guaranteed while at the same time preventing farmers from undertaking actions that may imperil them. Therefore, it is likely that laws that prevent negative pesticide use could not only save the rusty-patched bumblebees, but also other bumblebee species as well.

The prevention of the importation of foreign bumblebee species could also work in favor of the rusty-patched bumblebees. The fact that many of the foreign bumblebees, like any invasive species, tend to have a negative effect on the local ecosystem requires that there is a reduction of their prevalence in the country. This is especially the case when it comes to the manner through which they will only focus on the pollination of plants that are native to their own native land to the detriment of the local plants. It is also pertinent to note that with the proliferation of foreign species of bumblebees, imported for use in greenhouses, it becomes difficult for the rusty-patched bumblebee to survive because of the considerable competition, and as a consequence, the range of the latter is greatly reduced. Therefore, there is the need to ensure that there is a total ban on the importation of foreign bumblebee species in such a way that provides for the repopulation of the rusty-patched bumblebee. The latter process will be beneficial to the native plant life and in turn the animal life because it ensures their diversity in reproduction and health. There should also be a process where there is the promotion of awareness concerning the efficiency of rusty-patched bumblebees when it comes to the pollination of commercially viable crops such as tomatoes and peppers, among others. In this way, there will be a process within which to promote the keeping of this species of bumblebees by farmers in order to allow for the expansion of their range.

Colony Collapse Disorder

The phenomena known as colony collapse disorder (CCD) have been documented for many years and it seems to have first been noticed during the mid nineteenth century. Over the past few decades, however, their occurrence has increased in unprecedented rates to such an extent that many governments, especially in Europe and North America, have started taking steps to ensure that the situation is remedied. The CCD is a condition where the entire population of bees in a hive die off as a result of varying factors, both known and unknown and this occurs with devastating effects to the ecological system (Hamzelou, 2007, 639). However, while the factors which cause this syndrome have been speculated upon for many years, there is yet to be a conclusive answer to the question of what is the cause of these disappearances. While this may be the case, ongoing research into the matter has come to show that there is a possible connection between the use of a diverse number of pesticides by farmers which may have a negative effect on bees because they cause their deaths. It is a fact that when the CCD takes place, scientists and bee farmers are never able to determine the cause of this disorder because of the fact that their occurrences tend to be so slow that they are barely noticed until it is too late. Because of this, it has become imperative that beehives in all the countries that are affected to be kept under constant observation so that the exact cause of the problem can be determined and in the process remedied.

While it is a fact that the exact cause of CCD is not known, among the biggest suspects that have come to public notice has been the use of pesticides, which are believed to be contributing factors to the problem. Scientists have, for quite some time, supposed that the use of pesticides and possibly some fungicides may have been of lethal effect on bees, not killing them immediately but instead weakening their development and behaviour (Watanabe, 2009, 1010). Among the pesticides which have been of most interest to scientists studying CCD occurrences are the insecticides known as neonicoticoids, which contain chemicals that may have a negative effect on bees. These chemicals tend to be used in seed treatment in the process, they tend to work their way up through the plant into the latter’s flowers where they end up occurring in the nectar. As a result of the bees consuming the nectar containing chemicals from neonicoticoids over a long period of time, these chemicals, while not instantly lethal, may have other adverse effects on the bee population consuming them. It has been found that almost all the corn in the United States that has been genetically engineered contains some form of neonicoticoids, since the latter are used in their treatment. In addition to this, it has been found that these types of insecticides tend to occur in the soil of the fields near where the genetically modified corn has been planted (Vaughan & Black, 2008, 80). It has, therefore, been speculated that these forms of insecticides may get consumed by bees indirectly through the plants which occur in such fields and this may, in fact, be a major cause of the CCD occurrence in bee populations.

Scientists researching CCD have speculated that the use of antibiotics and miticides may have an effect on the sudden disappearances of bee populations. Research concerning this idea has been conducted extensively and many beekeepers who have been affected by CCD that have been interviewed have stated that they indeed make use of antibiotics and miticides among their bee colonies. The results of these investigations by scientists have, however, not been conclusive because of the fact that it is not known what specific antibiotics or miticides that are used may be the cause of the problem (Watanabe, 2008, 384). The use of such chemicals has not been determined to be a definite cause of CCD because there tends to be a lack of uniformity concerning exactly what particular chemicals are used by beekeepers, hence doubts have been cast about whether only one or a combination of antibiotics and miticides are responsible for the occurrence of CCD in bee colonies. The fact that a majority of the chemicals contained in antibiotics and miticides have yet to be tested to determine whether they have any negative effect on bees and this has contributed to the lack of credibility concerning whether these two groups of chemicals are indeed responsible for the development of CCD (Lago, 2012, 1678). While this may be the case, the widespread use of these chemicals by beekeepers makes them have a huge potential of being the cause of CCD and it has not become necessary for scientists to take the initiative in determining whether the diverse number of antibiotics and miticides used may have an effect on the the development of this condition in bees.

Most of the focal point concerning the causes of CCD has been given to the potential environmental causes of these phenomena. One would suggest that the development of CCD has taken place because of the increased commercialisation of beekeeping which has prevented bees from breeding freely. This may have created a situation where the bees which have developed lack genetic diversity which causes them to become susceptible to diseases and other genetic conditions that are potentially harmful to the colony. As a result of the weakening of the genetic makeup of bees, the potential of their being wiped out in case of disease becomes extremely high. This leads to the decimation of the bee population which not only affects these creatures, but also the entire ecosystem that depends on them to help in the process of pollination. It can therefore be said that while there may be many suspects on the causes of CCD, only more research concerning this phenomena can reveal the exact causes. This research has to be conducted urgently because whole ecosystems, as well as farmers, depend on bees to ensure the successful production of food to feed the billions of people all over the world.

Organic and Ethical Products in the US and UK

The current generation of consumers in the United States and in the United Kingdom has come to have plenty of expectations concerning the products that they purchase and it has taken quite an effort by the various companies involved to ensure that these consumers are satisfied. Sales for organic and ethical products in the United States and the United Kingdom are rising, more so than sales for conventional products, and consumer demand for these products is increasing despite the global economic downturn. This is according to a survey conducted towards the end of 2009 which showed that approximately one quarter of the adult shoppers in these countries buy certified organic food or beverages and one third continue to pay more for organic foods. It has become the trend in these two countries for consumers to buy products that are perceived to fulfill environmentally friendly, natural, organic, local, or humane requirements and enhance the corporate responsibility profile of the companies that are involved in the supply of such products (Cho & Krasser, 2011). While some of the major retailers in the United States, such as Wal-Mart and Safeway are expanding their offerings of organic products, in the United Kingdom, on the other hand, the retailers seem to be reducing their offerings of similar products (Robins, 2012). Despite this being the case, among the offerings that are leading the way in retail stores are increased sales of organic breads and grain products and "ethical" drinks.

It was estimated that in the United States, the supermarket sales of environmentally friendly or ethical products would rise by as high as 8.7 percent by the end of 2009 to nearly thirty eight billion dollars, and increase from the previous year where sales of goods specifically labeled organic rose 17 percent to just over twenty six billion dollars. The increased sales of the so-called greener products, from energy-efficient light bulbs to organic produce, are more than likely, according to experts, to result in the increase of awareness of issues concerning the sustainability of the environment in the face of the global economic crisis and climate change (Freestone & McGoldrick, 2008). Despite the newfound awareness of the need for environmental sustainability, it has been found that with the economy foremost in consumers' minds, sensitive price concerns in the midst of the current recession is as one might expect having an effect on the market for ethical products. While this is the case, surveys that have been conducted indicate that more have an understanding of the environmental, social, and economic implications of their choices. The result is that quite a number of consumers will end up purchasing more expensive ethical products even in economically challenging times and this is because of the belief that it is worth it (Himes, 2007). The need to ensure that they adopt a lifestyle that is in accordance with sustaining the environment has ensured that consumers are ready to undertake any expense in order to attain ethical products. This new trend among consumers seems to have attained the attention of major retailers, not only in the United States and the United Kingdom but also all over the world, and these are slowly but surely shifting towards making offerings of these ethical products on their shelves.

While many companies in the United States and the United Kingdom have conducted surveys to find out how consumers end up buying ethical products, mostly online, this process has to be supplemented by these companies ensuring that there are open lines of communication available between them and consumers. This tends to be done to ensure that there is an understanding which helps in the determination of what the consumers want and this has the aim of creating a good and effective relationship between the retailers and the consumers of their products (Newman & Bartels, 2011). It has been found that the sales of ethical goods and services have increased despite the economic recession, growing to more than fifty billion pounds in the United Kingdom alone. Since the commencement of the economic recession some years back, the importance of ethical markets from Fairtrade products and green energy to free range and environmentally friendly food has grown from £35.5bn to £47.2bn, and in addition, the annual ethical consumer markets report have shown that sales in the sector have increased significantly since its inception in 1989 (Costache, 2012). It has been proven that the intervention by enlightened businesses, alongside regulatory intervention, is the forces driving the ethical sales growth. During the economic recession, it was found that some of the biggest Fairtrade conversions, whether it was chocolate or sugar, and business is beginning to act in response to the challenge of providing consumers with more sustainable products and services such as fish, palm oil and soya (Doherty & Tranchell, 2007). It can therefore be said that ethical consumers are still a vitally important agent of change, but alongside them, however, are the actions of progressive businesses which have become a significant contributor to sales growth in this sector.

The Fairtrade Foundation, which is based in the United Kingdom, is a non-profit organization that advocates for higher payments for crops produced by the world's poorest farmers. This organization, in 2012 stated that the retail sales of products traded under the Fairtrade banner in that year leapt to an estimated 1.57 billion pounds, and this was an increase of nineteen percent from the previous year. Fairtrade stated that this showed that consumers were not abandoning products for which they had to pay a premium despite the fact that they had tight household budgets in a tough economic climate (Hartlieb & Jones, 2009). It was found that Fairtrade's annual cocoa, sugar and banana sales have continued to receive significant growth in the past few years, and because of this, the organization has stated that its premiums, the extra that producers receive for business development, have also come to increase significantly (Smith, 2010). The certification and product labeling using the Fairtrade mark are the main tools used by the foundation to ensure that farmers receive a fair price, and this has often resulted in goods on shop shelves costing slightly more (McMurtry, 2009).

It has been stated that in order to design effective programs to satisfy the needs of ethical consumers, the retailers involved must have proper information concerning the specific product that they would like to sell. In addition, it has been found that the retailers should also conduct surveys to find out whether ethical consumers find their products satisfactory, and they are obliged to ensure that they get the best products in the market for their shelves (Ismail & Panni, 2008). An example of such course of action is to ensure that their products are made to be safe in every way and to achieve this, the retailer must be aware of the dangers that can be found in during the production and processing of their products. If those who make decisions within the retail stores are not aware of a particular problem in the product, it would be impossible for them to come up with reasonable solutions. The study draws as much as possible on impact assessment studies of existing schemes, but while this is the case, the availability of studies in relation to the various different labels and standards is sometimes limited. There are many methodological difficulties associated with in-depth impact assessment, and analytical assumptions may be required in the definition of study findings to derive overall expected development impacts as it is beyond the scope of this study to undertake independent impact assessments on each of the labeling schemes being analyzed.