Project R-14308

The legal protection of insects: discrepancy between ecological needs and protection priorities. (Research)

Insects are a group of important species for a variety of reasons. First of all, 80% of all plants and 35% of all crops are dependent on pollination by several insects, such as honey bees. Second, insects are an important group within the food-chain, whereby several species, such as bats, 60% of all birds, and other insects depend on insects as a food source. Besides the two aforementioned services, insects provide a plethora of other services, such as dung burial, medicines, and pest regulation. However, a multitude of scientific studies have observed and demonstrated that insect abundance and diversity is declining (rapidly) and this is occuring all over the globe, including Europe. Within that background, the objective of the study is to formulate a suggestion for the legal protection of insects in the EU and Flanders, particulary with a view to ensure that ecological nees are reflected in our protection priorities. However, in order to come to fruition, a descriptive, evaluative and explanatory research method will be adopted as secondary research methods. Since insect protection could be studied from an endless amount of angles, the study will be restricted to four particular perspectives, specifically the Habitats and Birds Directives in addition to Flemish nature legislation, EU and Flemish Chemicals and Pesticide Policy and Legislation, Ecosystem Goods and Services, and Biodiversity and One Health.

16 September 2023 - 15 September 2027