Description
The intensive use of pesticides combined with loss of natural habitats and traditional shelters cause a sudden decrease in pollinator and predatory insect species, which affects agriculture.The project aims to decrease the agro-ecosystems degradations by active conservation of these insect species in Satu Mare, Salaj, Bihor and Maramures Counties. In this respect, 40 insect hotels will be installed, public awareness campaign will be organized in order to increase the interest of local community on the protection of target species, best practices and experiences will be disseminated regarding the conservation of target species. There will be installed 40 artificial shelters, 40 communities will be informed, publications and a documentary film will be developed, and experiences and good practice will be disseminated. The beneficiaries of the project are the landowners, volunteers, local communities, students, educators and entomology specialists.
Summary of project results
The intensive use of pesticides, combined with the loss of natural habitats and traditional shelters cause a sudden decrease in pollinator and predatory insect species, which affects the agriculture. The aim of the project “Insect hotel – an economic and ecologic method in sustainable agriculture”, initiated by E–Consult Association, was to decrease the degradations of agro-ecosystems by active conservation of these species. As an active measure for conservation of target species, 40 insect hotels were placed in 40 different villages from Satu Mare, Bihor, Salaj and Maramures counties. To increase the interest of local communities on protecting the targeted species, several meetings for their representatives were organised. Also, different ecological education activities were organised for students in the villages where the insect hotels were placed. In the project implementation period, 804 adults and 1,393 students were involved directly in the project activities and were informed about the economic and ecologic importance of pollinator and predatory insects. In order to achieve a good visibility of the project, 4,000 flyers and 600 informing posters were distributed in the targeted area. Also a documentary film about the ecologic and economic importance of pollinator and predatory insects was produced and disseminated. In September 2015, a study trip was organised for the representatives of mass media, so several journalists took a field visit at the insect hotels. A total of 44 articles appeared about the project in the local, regional and national media. In February 2016, a scientific conference was organised for specialists interested in conservation of insects and sustainable agriculture. Here were discussed and analysed the results of the project. The webpage of the organisation, created in the framework of the project, contributed to the increased visibility of the association. The monitoring activities proved that the insect hotels harbour a large number of pollinator and predatory insect species. These results show that the project succeeds to contribute to conservation of the targeted species, to sustain the diversity of these species and to decrease the degradation of the agro-ecosystem in the involved localities. As an output of the public awareness, local people from the targeted communities have started to make insect hotels in their own gardens, which show that the results of the project are sustainable.
Summary of bilateral results