Including bees and pollinators as key species within the Landscape and Nature Conservation and Enhancement Plan is an essential aspect of the SIZA Environmental and LEAF Bolt-On audit. Pollinators are immensely valuable, not only to farming operations but also to food security as a whole. They are essential for producing fruits, vegetables, seeds, etc., directly resulting in higher crop yields and quality. In short, no pollinators means no food.
Pollinators and agriculture
Globally and in South Africa, pollinators are mostly classified as “threatened” or “endangered”, depending on the subspecies. This further illustrates the importance of their conservation. The main threats driving this classification include a loss of habitat to agriculture, increased pesticide use, and a lack of flora diversity.
Agriculture offers a unique opportunity to support pollinator heath, as the industry directly depends on their pollination services that are essential for sustainable production, thereby safeguarding productivity while also contributing to ecosystem resilience. Pollinators provide more than direct benefits to crops; they also ensure the reproduction of diverse plants that help maintain ecosystems by controlling pests and assuring bioregulatory systems, thus enhancing their resilience.
Requirements
The requirements of the SIZA Environmental LEAF Bolt-On audit with regard to the inclusion of bees and pollinators as a key species are:
- Referencing seasonal food (i.e., nectar, pollen, and beneficial flower companion plants), shelter, and foraging sites for bees and pollinators in the Landscape and Nature Conservation and Enhancement Plan.
- Having bee and pollinator habitats present on-site.
Additional considerations to protect pollinators include:
- Procedures to adjust the timing of application of pesticides outside of peak season.
- Prioritise Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies to decrease on-site pesticide demand.
For further information, please see LEAF’s guide to pollinating insects for farmers.
Overall, pollinators are key to a thriving agricultural sector in South Africa, as the industry is directly dependent on their pollination services, which can only be substituted by mechanical pollination services, which are expensive, time-consuming, and induce further risks. Encouraging natural pollination by providing companion flowers, pollinator habitats, adjusting pesticide application, and/or prioritising non-chemical methods of pest control directly meets the requirements of the LEAF Bolt-On. It contributes to the conservation of pollinators for the benefit of agriculture as a whole.
