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蜂群衰竭危機 啟動美國聯邦拯救行動

2007年07月09日
摘譯自2007年7月3日ENS美國,華府報導;吳萃慧編譯;蔡麗伶審校

蜜蜂是為農作物授粉的重要媒介。圖片來源:Wikipedia2個為改善美國蜜蜂族群消減趨勢的法案目前正呈送美國參議院。加州民主黨參議員巴克瑟(Barbara Boxer)6月29日提出「授粉者保護法案(the Pollinator Protection Act)」。這項法案主張增加有關蜜蜂及原生授粉者的研究經費,這些物種數量在過去幾十年逐漸減少。

蒙大拿州民主黨參議員包可士(Max Baucus)則提出「授粉者棲地保護法案(the Pollinator Habitat Protection Act)」。這項法案鼓吹改善美國聯邦蜂群健康的保育工作。

擔任參議院環境委員會主席的巴克瑟表示:「由人們飼養管理的蜜蜂族群消減速率達到警戒的狀況,全國族群約已減少25%,而科學家們仍未完全瞭解原因。更糟的是,最近情況越來越嚴重,族群消減比例是過去50年內數量的50%」。

美國國家科學院所執行的一個名為「北美授粉者現況」的研究,也發現原生授粉者族群有類似的減少趨勢,他們於是主張增加相關研究,以確認這個問題的嚴重程度。

巴克瑟指出:「由於原生及產蜜蜂群為許多重要農作物進行授粉,如果不停止這種消減狀況,將影響依賴動物授粉的農作收成,進而影響作物價格及食用作物的短缺。這些食用作物包括杏仁果、酪梨、蔓越莓、蘋果、及大豆」。

美國農業部秘書長裘安斯(Mike Johanns)表示,蜂群衰竭失調(Colony Collapse Disorder或CCD)現象已經影響至全美35州的蜂群。它的主要特徵就是工蜂群在短時間內快速消失,雖然花粉及蜂蜜都還完整地留在蜂巢內,但卻找不到死亡的蜂群遺體。有些養蜂人還曾通報他們有80-100%的蜂群不翼而飛。

裘安斯指出:「如果CCD現象不好好加以調查,它將會直接造成150億美元農作物生產上的損失,以及750億美元的間接損失」。

Bee Colony Collapse Mobilizes Federal Rescue Effort
WASHINGTON, DC, July 3, 2007 (ENS)

Two bills now making their way through the U.S. Senate are aimed at reversing the decline in the nation's population of honey bees. Senator Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat, on Friday introduced the Pollinator Protection Act, a bill to increase funding for research on honey bees and native pollinators, whose numbers have been in decline in recent decades.

Senator Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat, has introduced the Pollinator Habitat Protection Act, which encourages conservation efforts to improve the health of bees in the United States.

"Managed honey bee colonies have collapsed at alarming rates, 25 percent nationwide, and scientists still have not fully discovered why. But the latest declines are part of a larger trend, with honey bee colonies down 50 percent in the past 50 years," said Boxer, who chairs the Senate Environment Committee.

A study released by the National Academy of Sciences, "Status of Pollinators in North America” found similar losses in native pollinator populations and called for increased study to determine the extent of this problem.

"Because native and honey bees pollinate so many crops, this decline, if not stopped, could impact many crops dependent on animal pollination and cause both increased prices and shortages of many food crops including almonds, avocados, cranberries, apples, and soybeans," said Boxer.

Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD, is affecting bees in 35 states, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said. It is characterized by a rapid loss of adult worker bees.

Intact stores of pollen and honey are left in the colony but few or no dead bees are found. Some beekeepers reported losses in their colonies as high as 80 to 100 percent.

"If left unchecked, Colony Collapse Disorder has the potential to cause a $15 billion direct loss of crop production and $75 billion in indirect losses," Johanns said.

全文及圖片詳見ENS

作者

蔡麗伶(LiLing Barricman)

In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.