Dear Editor,
I read Patrick Greenfield's article (23rd. March 2022, theguardian.org, link below) on the UN's conference on biological diversity and share campaigners' concern that this is all moving "at a snail's pace".
The article mentions that "The draft UN convention on biological diversity (CBD) sets out targets for the end of the decade" and the BBC (link below) also posted a review which listed the four goals of the conference: increased conservation; resources used as sustainably as possible; more equal sharing of natural resources; increased financial support for biodiversity protection.
While each of these goals is clearly positive, it was the point that is missing which really "blows my mind": Where is a clear commitment to reducing industrial-scale, chemical-(fertilizer and pesticide)-intensive agriculture?
So long as this goal is missing, the biosphere is lost!
And you don't need to be a scientist to know this: Anyone who was born in the 1960's or before remembers when, after any drive in the summer, a car's headlights and windscreen would be plastered with dead insects. This is now no longer the case and, indeed, I can cycle through rural areas on a warm summer day without eye protection: There are simply no insects around to bother me.
So, if our chemicals have "removed" insects from the food-chain then, without a doubt, we are on track to some horrendous extinction events ... and the UN hasn't even included the most obvious measure in its goals!
PS: I recommend (re-)reading Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring". It may be sixty years old (this year!) but not much has changed when it comes to the harm caused to nature by the chemicals that we choose to spray.
Regards
