Pollinators in peril

Ninety per cent of the world's most important food crops are threatened because human behaviour is pushing pollinators towards extinction. American entomologists Stephen Buchmann and Gary Nabhan argue in their recently published book, The forgotten Pollinators , that "The world is facing an impending global pollination crisis that may have profound implications."

Although their research focusses on endangered pollinators in North America, they have also conducted studies on pollinators in countries like Ecuador, India and Brazil. Around 180 vertebrate pollinators could be facing extinction because of the excessive use of pesticides, deforestation, logging, mining and industrial development.