Our survival depends on them: The three biggest threats to our lives from insect extinction

Two million animal and plant species are at risk of extinction, twice as many as scientists thought in 2019, according to a new European study. This figure has actually been revised upward due to better assessment of threatened insect populations. Because this branch of the living world, insects, is one of the “unpleasant”, but also the most misunderstood, it is a shame that they are the ones that provide the greatest services to the planet and humanity.

Our diet depends almost entirely on insects

75% of agricultural production depends on pollinators, mainly insects. 95% of our food depends on the quality of the soil, but the “survival” of the soil depends on billions of people. microorganismsmicroorganisms Those who reside in it, enrich it and make it airy. And the consequences of the disappearance of insects are already visible: Harvard University estimates that 3 to 5% of the world’s production of fruits, vegetables and nuts is lost each year due to lack of pollination. Food production is not just about quantity, but also about quality. According to a study published in the journal nature communication, Fruits pollinated by insects have better quality than fruits that have not yet been pollinated. This loss in terms of yield as well as quality has a direct impact on the health, inflation, employment and economy of the country.

Good quality water requires the presence of insects

Insects also play a role in the quality of our water. There filtration workfiltration work Water, whether from rivers or underground water reserves with running water, depends on vegetation. However, vegetation requires the presence of insects: it is the pollination of insects that allows many plants to reproduce. A study published in Nature Shows that the presence of insects allows better filtration due to their action on the diversity of plants present in wetlands.

Insects help reduce weather disasters

Insects have a variety of impacts on the cycles of nature and their role in mitigating weather disasters is often forgotten. Healthy soil, with vegetation in good condition, is a shield against drought FloodsFloods, The presence of plants and deep roots limits the risk of overflow in case of heavy rain, and soils well covered with vegetation limit this. gravitygravity Dry. Once again, the presence of lush vegetation is inseparable from that of insects: one cannot live without the other.

while the problem of Climate changeClimate change Now a central topic in government policies and concerns of the general public, the cause of insects has been completely forgotten, even though our entire existence depends on these often despised creatures.