Press release

Bees invoice Govt for £1.8 billion per year

18 July 2012

Giant bees descended on Whitehall today (Wednesday 18 July 2012) to call for Government protection in return for the huge contribution they make to the UK economy.

The giant bees, part of Friends of the Earth's The Bee Cause campaign, presented Government economic advisors, who are meeting today in Whitehall, with an invoice for £1.8 billion for their annual pollination services to British agriculture.

The advisors, the Natural Capital Committee, have been asked by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to provide independent expert advice on how the Government can properly value our natural environment when making decisions and forming policy.

Earlier this week a committee of MPs criticised the Government for failing to set out clear plans to deliver on its commitment to ensure Government decision-making fully values the services nature provides such as pollination of crops.

Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to save British bees - and save the nation billions of pounds - by committing to a British Bee action plan.

Friends of the Earth's Nature Campaigner, Paul de Zylva said:

"Bees aren't just valuable for the environment, they enrich our economy too - research shows that pollinating crops by hand would cost economy at least £1.8 billion each year.

"Unless urgent action is taken to tackle the decline in bee populations, farmers and consumers will be left to pick up an enormous bill.

"The Government must take steps to protect these crucial natural pollinators - a British Bee Action Plan is needed now."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1.    Photos of today's bee invoice action are available here.

2.    For more information about the Natural Capital Committee see here.

3.    Friends of the Earth research, published earlier this year, found it would cost the UK an extra £1.8billion every year to hand-pollinate crops without bees. To read a briefing on the report, visit here. To read the full report visit here.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust