Bee's eye view: Will EPA's Strategies deliver meaningful change for listed species conservation?

Reversing the biodiversity crisis is essential. The abundance of many insect groups is declining by a staggering 1-2% per year. At this rate, many species will go extinct and the ecosystems they support will suffer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has created “Strategies” to help restore at-risk species by making pesticide regulations compliant with the Endangered Species Act. The nationwide, programmatic framework tied to pesticide labels creates a mechanism that could be used to implement stronger protections for Threatened and Endangered species. Still, it remains unclear whether this new framework will prompt sufficient protections. Gaps in the current framework include a focus on agricultural use for both insecticides and herbicides leaving use in residential and other settings with insufficient ESA oversight. Learn more about the Strategies, the value they offer and areas where they could be improved.