Sansad TV: Nature And You- Why Butterflies Matter? | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

• Butterflies play a crucial role in indicating the health of an ecosystem. With their effective pollination skills, butterflies establish a mutually beneficial relationship with flowers by consuming nectar. Furthermore, their presence can provide insights into the overall health of other invertebrate species that comprise more than two-thirds of all species.
• A diverse butterfly population often indicates a thriving invertebrate population that contributes to various environmental benefits such as natural pest control and pollination. Moreover, butterflies are a vital component of the food chain, serving as prey for birds, bats, and other insectivorous animals.

The Importance of Pollination for Food Production

• Pollination is a crucial process for the reproduction of flowering plants, involving the transfer of pollen grains from the male anther to the female stigma of the same or another plant of the same species. The fertilized egg cells grow into seeds that are found in numerous fruits and vegetables that are an essential part of our diets.
• Not only is pollination important for the food we eat directly, but it is also vital for foraging crops like field beans and clover that provide food for livestock, which we rely on for meat. Additionally, pollination helps to feed numerous other animals in the food chain and maintains the genetic diversity of flowering plants.

The Threat of Pollinator Decline

• Unfortunately, the decline of pollinators such as moths, bees, butterflies, and hoverflies is undeniably linked to human activity. Large areas of natural habitats have been cleared for monoculture cultivation, while the use of pesticides and fertilizers is causing harm to nature's little helpers. Between 1964 and 2008, there was a 40-60% increase in the relative yields of pollinator-dependent crops, whereas pollinator-independent crops like cereals and potatoes saw a corresponding 140% rise in yields.

International Efforts to Protect Pollinators

• By 2014-15, the United States had established a Pollinator Health Task Force and a national strategy that focused on increasing the monarch butterfly population and planting native species and flowers across an area of more than 28,000 square kilometers to attract pollinators.
• Similarly, the United Kingdom developed 23 key policy actions as part of its National Pollinator Strategy, while nearly 20 countries joined the Coalition of the Willing on Pollinators after the IPBES report.

Ways to Protect Butterflies

• Butterflies are essential creatures, and since they have been around for millions of years, it could be argued that they deserve to be protected. Here are some ways in which we can help protect butterflies:
• Provide the right habitat for them: Each butterfly species' caterpillars eat only specific plant types. In South Australia, this includes grasses, sedges, pea flowering plants, bushes, and mistletoe. Planting these types of plants can encourage butterflies to lay their caterpillar eggs in your garden.
• Minimize the use of chemicals in your garden, as pesticides and chemicals can be lethal to all insects, including caterpillars.
• Plant a variety of nectar-producing plants that butterflies like, such as citrus, snapdragons, crepe myrtle, wattles, tea trees, bottlebrushes, lavender, banksia, daisies, and verbena. This will ensure that butterfly-friendly food is available throughout the year.
• In addition, improving the science of pollination, better land management, strong regulations governing pesticide use, and the restoration and protection of habitats for wild pollinators are essential. Above all, there is an urgent need to monitor wild pollinators and strengthen the governance of natural assets.

Conclusion

• The presence of pollinators in urban areas can be beneficial to the production of food in the surrounding peri-urban areas. In planning for the future of cities, it is important to prioritize the inclusion of wild biodiversity, including pollinators. Effective policies and governance are needed to manage landscapes, whether natural, agricultural or urban.
• Addressing the complex environmental issues that threaten human security requires a well-integrated approach. This can be achieved by promoting organic farming, reducing pesticide usage, and implementing effective landscape management.