Have they all buzzed off? Insect diversity in Middle and Eastern Europe. There is a massive decline in insect numbers and their disappearance often goes unnoticed. It is however our duty to retain insects for future generations. Not only do they perform useful ecological services such as pollination, pest control and furthering the nutrient cycle inside ecosystems, but like every other species on earth, they also have the right to live. Consequently, the European Commission declared an "EU Pollinators Initiative" to combat the disappearance of pollinators in June 2018, the year of Cultural Heritage. The European Parliament called for a "European Bee and Pollination Week" and the German government for a "Programme for the Protection of Insects" with nine fields of action. Europe's landscapes are largely cultural landscapes that have arisen historically through the work of humans and their domesticated animals. Through their historical and current usage they determine our feeling of local identity and offer guidance in how we should behave with regard to the sustainable protection of Europe's natural heritage. Cultural landscapes show connections between the economy and the environment and therefore where our natural resources come from and in which direction they are developing. It is therefore worthwhile not only to take a closer look at the ecosystems of insects in our own country but also to compare these with those of our European partners. In the form of a West to East transect, 40 students and 21 teachers from both schools will compare the insect populations of the Southern Hunsrück near Bad Kreuznach with those of Transylvania around Sibiu/Hermannstadt. The results of the research will lead to one central causal hypotheses: Landscape and land-use structures of each cultural landscape. Our cultural landscapes are a link between the past and the future and the condition they are in is clearly a central factor in insect mortality. Out of this knowledge there is a growing awareness for the necessity of europeaninsect protection coupled with a change in behaviour strategies in our agricultural practices with which we can win our insects back. We need varied landscape structures, flower meadows and blooming pasture land, and to stop using insecticides and herbicides in horticulture and agriculture.
Context - Background to the project Loss of biodiversity also affects insects and their disappearance is mostly taken for granted. However, it is our duty to protect the insects for future generations, not only because these animals carry out important ecological services such as e.g. pollination, pest control and contributing to the food cycles in ecosystems, but also because every single species on earth has a right to exist. (EU Bill “Restoration of nature in Europe by 2050” 22.06.2022) Aims of the project In the form of an “east-west transect” the insect population of the southern Hunsrück near Bad Kreuznach (DE) was compared with that of Transylvania by Sibiu/Hermannstadt (RO) It became clear that the state of preservation of each cultural landscape - whether as agricultural land with tendencies towards urbanisation or as a mosaic landscape - alongside the problems of insecticides and light pollution, is a central cause for the diversity of insects and for their extinction. From this resulted almost incidentally a consciousness for the need for a European insect conservation and action strategy bringing agricultural businesses on board, with which we can maintain or increase our insect populations: varied landscape structures, less light pollution, flowering fields and meadows, gardens and agriculture (almost) free of neonicotinoids. Further goals were the promotion of communication skills and the technical language of Biology in German (GER C1/C2), team skills and the ability to be critical. Furthermore, the teachers participated in activities which furthered their skills, through learning different teaching and learning methods and styles. Number and profile of the participants Two secondary schools from Germany (coordinator) and Rumania collaborated on this project with 24 students (18 girls and 6 boys) aged between 16 and 18 and attending years 12 or 13 of their school/college. Description of the activities Throughout the whole project there were 6 modules organised by the respective partner. Modules C1 and C2 began with training the teachers in Germany and Rumania. C5 involved the planning and evaluation of the project at the end of the Covid pandemic. The remaining modules (C6, C7, C8) were short exchanges of groups of students. Modules C3 and C4 had to be cancelled due the Covid pandemic 2020/2021. Teaching methodology In this scientifically oriented project conclusions were reached using hands-on research which was also the basis for teaching. First the participants were briefed in the theory and practice of research by specialists (university professors, doctors, farmers, conservationists, beekeepers) to bring all participants up-to-date with the research and technology surrounding the topic of the extinction of insects. Next, data that was both based on hypotheses and methodologically comprehensible was collected and evaluated. Finally, there followed critical discussions and the writing-up and presentation of results which led to practical activities for the conservation of insects. Results and consequences The disappearance of flying insects since 1989 was proven for the first time in both project regions in Europe. In Rumania, the results were particularly surprising: A) In the agricultural landscape of Southern Hunsrück (Guldental DE) more than 75% of insects have disappeared (measurements from 2020) where more than 50% was expected. B) In the mosaic landscape of southern Transylvania (Cisnadioara/Michelsberg, RO) more than 50% of insects have disappeared (measurements from 2020), where about 20% had been expected. The following causes for this development have been partly deduced through analytical research and partly described. A) Significance of the use of the land (mapping with ArcGIS) for insect fauna B) Effects of increasing light pollution (light colour, brightness) on nocturnal light insects C) Effects of neonicotinoids on the nervous system of flight insects. The following measures for the protection of insects were carried out. A) Three strips of flowering meadow (3000m) have been planted with three types of ecological and conventional seeds at the Alfred-Delp Schule (Hargesheim, DE) B) 5 ha (50000m) new, extensive, green land has been cultivated by a local farmer at the Alfred-Delp Schule (Hargesheim, DE) C) A course in pruning fruit trees (BUND Guldental) for the preservation of old fruit orchards in Hargesheim (DE) was offered D) A scything course to mow extensive meadows on the old Protestant cemetery in Petis/Petersdorf (Transylvania, RO) Longterm use All the participants recognised that sustainable conservation of insects is only possible through changing our own behaviour and is reliant on us doing something practical about it, in order to maintain and protect these creatures that are so important ecologically and economically for future generations in Europe. (European Green Deal)