Five years 'Save the Bees' - Bee protectors criticize inadequate species protection
Five years after the most successful popular initiative in Bayrian history, the demands from the perspective of initiator Agnes Becker are still not fully implemented in many areas. "Seventy percent are unfortunately still only insufficiently implemented or data is missing", said the ODP-Landesvorsitzendes of the German Press Agency in Munich.
Critically, she sees the fact that the three major themes of "Save the Bees" - more biotope connections, more ecological farming, and the halving of used pesticides - are "regrettably neglected". "There is a lack of seriousness in implementation from our perspective.", she added.
The initiator group of the popular initiative will present their balance to the Landtag today. In this context, a scientific evaluation is also to be presented, as opinions on success and failure have been widely divergent for years. Last Friday, Agriculture Minister Michaela Kaniber (CSU) and Environmental Minister Thorsten Glauber (Free Voters) announced in advance that, in their opinion, the implementation of the popular initiative "significantly" advances - the ministers expect that nearly 90 percent of the measures from the popular initiative and the accompanying law have been implemented.
The discussion round in the Landtag could therefore be quite interesting, as Kaniber and Glauber will meet Becker and scientist Roman Lenz from the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf on the podium in the Senate Hall.
From Becker's perspective, much good has happened since the popular initiative, for which she also explicitly wants to praise the state government. This includes, for example, the designation of natural forests, the expansion of riparian strips in fields, the promotion of meadow orchards, and the implementation of late-mowed meadows. "Approximately one third of all demands have been well implemented according to our assessment", she said.
Initiator: People have other concerns now
Looking back on the great success of the popular initiative, Becker now sees a mood in the country that has significantly less acceptance for biodiversity protection. The same popular initiative would likely receive significantly less support today than in 2019, when a very special mood prevailed.
People have other concerns now after the Corona crisis, economic downturn, and international crises. However, the situation regarding species extinction remains highly dramatic - even more so than with climate change. Extincting species threaten the stability of ecosystems. "You can't smell it, you can't hear it, but it's happening", said Becker.
Therefore, it remains the responsibility of the initiator group to closely monitor implementation and maintain pressure on the state government, Becker emphasized. "Unfortunately, they cannot sue for more consistent implementation of their own law."
On February 13, 2019, more than 1.7 million citizens signed the popular initiative Biodiversity – "Save the Bees". 18.3 percent of eligible voters thus set a clear sign for more biodiversity protection. On July 17, the Landtag adopted the popular initiative.
- Thorsten Glauber, the Free Voters' Environmental Minister, acknowledges the significant advancement in implementing the "Save the Bees" popular initiative, anticipating nearly 90% of measures to be implemented.
- Bees play a crucial role in the three major themes of the initiative: biotope connections, ecological farming, and reducing pesticide use, which unfortunately remain neglected according to Agnes Becker.
- Originating from Bavaria, Michaela Kaniber, the Agriculture Minister (CSU), will participate in the Landtag discussion alongside Becker and Roman Lenz, evaluating the initiative's success and failure.
- The scientific presentation in the Landtag aims to reconcile divergent opinions on the implementation of the "Save the Bees" popular initiative, revealing crucial insights into its progress due to the joint efforts of people, agriculture, and nature protection.
- Thorsten Glauber and Michaela Kaniber commended Becker for acknowledging the positive impact of the popular initiative since 2019, which includes the designation of natural forests, expanded riparian strips, and promoted meadow orchards.
- Becker emphasized the responsibility of the initiator group in continuously monitoring implementation and putting pressure on the state government, asserting that they lack legal means to enforce more consistent implementation of their own law.
