French regions with the highest levels of pesticide use have significantly fewer common birds, according to a scientific study published this week. Conducted by researchers from the National Museum of Natural History, this analysis highlights a marked correlation between the volume of pesticides purchased locally and the decline in bird populations.
To reach these conclusions, the team cross-referenced publicly available data on the sale of 242 active substances with observations of 64 bird species from citizen science programs. The result: in more than eight out of ten cases, the researchers observed a negative correlation between chemical intensity and bird presence.
An impact far beyond cultivated fields
The study, published in an international scientific journal, suggests that environmental contamination from pesticides is not limited to strictly agricultural species. Birds that occasionally visit cultivated areas to feed or nest, such as certain tits or passerines, would also be affected.
In light of these findings, scientists believe that reducing pesticide use is essential to halting the current erosion of agricultural biodiversity. They call for rapid changes in practices, emphasizing that the observed effects are already widespread and measurable across the country.
