Topic – Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation
3) Discuss the impact of intensive agriculture on insect population of the world?(250 words)
Why this question
The world’s insects are hurtling down the path to extinction, threatening a “catastrophic collapse of nature’s ecosystems”, according to the first global scientific review. The articles talks about this alarming possibility and its impact.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to bring out the impact of agricultural on insect population and what it means to have a rapidly declining insect population. Thereafter, we need to discuss what needs to be done and the debate over using insecticides and pesticides in agriculture.
Directive word
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Explain that human activities are causing several irreparable changes to earth and now studies have highlighted the grave threat to insect population.
Body
- Explain that The study, ‘Worldwide decline of the entomofauna: A review of its drivers’, has been published in the journal, Biological Conservation. Researchers discovered that over 40 per cent of insect species could go extinct in the next few decades — this extinction rate is eight times faster than that of mammals, birds and reptiles. Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and dung beetles (Coleoptera) are the taxa most affected.
- Explain the causes such as Intensive agriculture, agro-chemical pollutants, invasive species and climate change are listed as significant triggers
- Discuss the debate over the use of insecticides and pesticides in agriculture and what needs to be done.
Conclusion – give a fair and balanced view and discuss way forward.
