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Noisy leaf blowers may be bugging more than just your neighbors.
While it doesn’t call for an all-out ban, the ministry said that leaf blowers should only be utilized as a last resort, not simply for everyday debris-clearing.
Insectslike bees, spiders, beetles and flies are vital to the world’s environment, helping to pollinate plants, naturally decompose dead wildlife and perform other tasks key to the circle of life. Without the Earth’s billions of bugs, human life may be threatened, according toNational Geographic.
Leaf blower.
“I think that leaf blowers fall into the category of being ‘too tidy’ and this can be very bad for insects,” Edward Turner, a zoology lecturer at the University of Cambridge,toldThe Independent. “Basically, I think we just need to be a little less tidy and a little more tolerant of ‘weeds’ … I think insects, and therefore lots of other species, would benefit.”
On top of reducing pesticide and insecticide usage, Turner suggests society should also get a bit more comfortable with a slightly overgrown curb appeal.
“Generally, if we were to cut our road verges and open grass areas less frequently, let some weeds grow along our pavements and leave leaves to decompose more, I think it would benefit insects a lot,” he said.
In 2017, a study found that nature reserves in Germany had experienced a 75 percent reduction in flying bugs over the previous 27 years, according toScientific American. The authors of the study suggested the data could indicate a more widespread rapid decline in insects around the world.
Leaf blowers were under fire in the past few years, but for a different reason. Several U.S. communities looking to reduce noise pollution in the autumn months took measures to ban the tools. In 2018, Washington, D.C. moved to phase out gas-powered leaf blowers, according to NBC4, with the ban going into full effect in January 2022.
source: people.com
