UNEP launching new initiative to protect world's bio-diversity

New York, Aug 9 (PTI) The United Nations Environment
Programme is launching a new initiative to better protect
bees, bats, birds and others that are essential to global crop
production and biodiversity.
The five-year USD 26 million scheme is designed to
tackle the recent decline and, in some cases, near collapse
of important pollinator populations around the world, such
as honey bees. Disease, pesticides, habitat loss and the
introduction of exotic species are all thought to be
responsible in part.
Pollinators, including bees, bats, butterflies, birds
and even mosquitoes, play a vital role in food production
because they transfer pollen between seed plants, affecting
more than a third of the world's agricultural crops.
Farmers and consumers are thus dependent on healthy
pollinator populations. Under the initiative, best management
practices for maintaining and protecting pollinator species
will be introduced worldwide and countries and regions will be
given assistance to help them protect pollinators.
The scheme is being funded by the Global Environment
Facility and also coordinated by the UN Food and Agriculture
Organisation.