Protect insects - preserve diversity

Due to the dramatic decline in insects, which are so indispensable for us and our ecosystems, the Federal Government introduced a law to protect insects on 10 February 2021 at the suggestion of the Federal Ministry for the Environment. This law, passed on 18 August 2021, has resulted in numerous new regulations for the protection of insects in the Federal Nature Conservation Act.

The Insect Protection Act provides for the following measures, which were integrated into the Federal Nature Conservation Act on 8 December 2022:

• Insect habitats such as dry stone walls, stone bars, orchards and extensively used meadows are protected by law as biotopes.
• In protected areas, certain forms of plant protection products (biocides) with adverse effects on insects are generally prohibited. The use of pesticides will also be banned at the edges of watercourses. The use of the controversial glyphosate will initially be severely restricted and completely banned from the end of 2023.
• Artificial light sources attract nocturnal insects and lead to their death. To counteract this, the installation of certain lighting in protected areas is generally prohibited and the operation of sky spotlights can be severely restricted by ordinance. Limit values for light emissions can also be set.
• In future, the use of insect traps outside enclosed spaces may be restricted or prohibited by regulations.

Humans cannot live without insects. If insects were to disappear as pollinators, huge sums would have to be spent on artificial pollination of fruit plants alone. For this reason, it is in everyone's interest to stop the extinction of insects. Although insect protection measures are often criticised by farmers, those who protect insects ensure that agriculture will still be possible tomorrow. Rewards are also available for farmers who refrain from using insecticides.

The Insect Protection Act is flanked by the BMU's Insect Protection Action Programme.

Insect and nature conservation is also becoming increasingly important in the planning of construction projects. The MuP Group therefore minimises interventions in the natural environment as far as possible in the planning stage. Engineering for a better tomorrow!