PAN Europe - Issues

Issues

Biodiversity
Given their highly toxic nature it is perhaps unsurprising that pesticides exert a severe negative impact on European wildlife. For not only do these chemicals kill specific agricultural pests, but countless non-target species of birds, fish, insects, frogs and mammals are harmed too - all of which poses a substantial threat to the well-being of European ecosystems. Indeed, a recent study based in Germany found that areas near to farms using pesticides show up to 6 times less biodiversity than habitats surrounding organic farmland.

Research also shows that reductions in Ottters benefit from decreasing pesticide levels

Ottters benefit from decreasing pesticide levels

pesticide use can lead directly to the regeneration of failing wildlife populations. The most comprehensive European study ever undertaken into the health of otters found that populations are now far healthier and continue to expand thanks to decreasing levels of specific pesticides in the environment.