When biodiversity sanctuaries become contaminated: A reflection on pesticides and hope

I willl never forget the moment I learned that even in the Amazon rainforest, residues of conventional pesticides had been found. I was studying biology in Colombia, and that news hit me like a punch to the gut that, paradoxically, pushed me even harder to dedicate my life to biological pest control.

There is something that hurts viscerally when you discover that those places you love, that you consider sacred in their abundance and biodiversity, have been “stained” by technologies that ended up being a betrayal of life itself.

The reality we did not want to see

Some weeks ago, Ömer shared an article with me that completely shook me. Researchers from De Vlinderstichting (The Butterfly Foundation) in the Netherlands published a study titled “Pesticiden in Natura2000 gebieden” (Pesticides in Natura2000 areas) documenting traces of chemical pesticides in their protected areas. What is most disturbing about all of this is that the report was subsequently removed from the internet because the researcher received death threats. Fortunately, I managed to review it before it disappeared, and in my opinion, both the data and methodology are valid.

The research results did not surprise me, but what happened afterward hurt me deeply. It was only a matter of time before some dedicated researcher confirmed what we already suspected: pesticide residues are in all ecosystems, even those that we as a society have decided to protect. But when someone receives death threats for revealing this reality, it makes us think a lot about the interests at stake. I sincerely hope that things improve for this researcher, who had the courage to make visible an uncomfortable but necessary truth.

The implications of finding pesticide residues in protected natural areas are profound and deeply concerning. These chemicals can disrupt the delicate balance of ecosystems in multiple ways: they affect pollinator populations like bees and butterflies, essential for plant reproduction; they contaminate water sources, impacting aquatic life and the entire food chain; they reduce biodiversity by harming non-target species; and they can bioaccumulate in predators at the top of the food chain. In protected areas specifically, where we expect to find refuges for vulnerable species, these contaminants can undermine the very purpose of conservation efforts, potentially pushing already fragile populations toward local extinction.

This feels like a great disappointment, a huge failure. But also like an urgent call to action.

Hope is not lost

However, now more than ever I believe it is time to apply solutions together and remake our alliance with nature. I am convinced that we can continue feeding ourselves and meeting our needs without compromising the functioning of the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems we are part of.

The key lies in mixing new technologies with ancestral wisdom. For this, we must set aside our ego and recognize that the agricultural industry needs to learn from multiple sources: from ancestral knowledge, from the latest scientific developments in ecology, and especially from indigenous communities that have developed sustainable ways of producing food for centuries. There are already many initiatives pointing in this direction, and it excites me to see professors from renowned universities expressing without reservation something that needed to be said:

“This is not needed to feed the world: that mantra needs to be erased… the evidence shows we do not need chemical pesticides”

— Prof. Marcel Dicke

(Wageningen University)

The transition path

We are at the beginning of a paradigm shift, and I believe initially we will need transitional tools like Integrated Pest Management (IPM). It is simple but revolutionary: use any other way to control pests and diseases before resorting to conventional pesticides.

This includes:

• Plant varieties resistant to major pests
• Traps and pheromones to control populations
• Natural control, offering natural controllers the resources they need
• Biological control, releasing natural enemies of pests

Conventional pesticides should be the last option, not the first.

An encouraging piece of news is that there are increasingly more biological products approved worldwide that can be part of this transition. Plant extracts, beneficial microorganisms, and other biocontrollers are proving their effectiveness as real and viable alternatives. This gives us concrete tools to make the change, not just theory.

Inspiring movements

In parallel, we can implement strategies that are already proving their worth:

Regenerative agriculture seeks to restore life in agricultural soils. Evidence shows that by recovering soil biology, we obtain healthy and productive crops.

Organic agriculture, permaculture, and agroecology have demonstrated that it is possible to produce quality food without pesticides, creating healthier alliances with nature.

Our power as consumers

As consumers, we have enormous power. The best thing we can do is:

• Buy local whenever possible
• Support alternative food production initiatives
• Support and buy in farmers markets
• Talk about the issue in our communities
• Give environmentally-friendly agriculture, the importance it deserves in our society.

After all, our survival and that of future generations depends on this.

The power of the collective

The more people join these movements, the sooner they.will grow and become the new “normal.” Every conscious purchase, every conversation, every decision to bet on sustainable alternatives is a vote for the future we want to build.

Sanctuaries can become pure again. Ecosystems can heal. And we can be part of that healing.

The question is not whether it is possible, but when we will decide it is time.

References

1. De Vlinderstichting (The Butterfly Foundation). (2025). Pesticiden in Natura2000 gebieden [Pesticides in Natura2000 areas]. Report VS2025.016, Project P-2024.141. Wageningen, Netherlands. [Report removed from internet due to threats to researcher]
2. Silva, M.C., Reydon, B., Faria, A. et al. Water and sediment pesticide contamination on indigenous lands surrounded by oil palm plantations in the Brazilian Amazon. Heliyon 9(9):e19920 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19920
3. Santos, S., et al. Ecological risk assessment of pesticides in urban streams of the Brazilian Amazon. Chemosphere 291:132821 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132821
4. Laabs, V., Amelung, W., Pinto, A.A. et al. Use and fate of pesticides in the Amazon State, Brazil: risk to human health and the environment. Environ Toxicol Chem 21(12):2651-62 (2002). doi: 10.1002/etc.5620211225
5. Morton, D.C., Defries, R.S., Shimabukuro, Y.E. Pesticide use and biodiversity conservation in the Amazonian agricultural frontier. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 368(1619):20120378 (2013). doi: 10.1098/rstb.2012.0378
6. Brühl, C.A., Bakanov, N., Köthe, S. et al. Direct pesticide exposure of insects in nature conservation areas in Germany. Sci Rep 11, 24144 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-03366-w
7. Munz, S., Osterwalder, S., Haeni, M. et al. Widespread contamination of soils and vegetation with current use pesticide residues along altitudinal gradients in a European Alpine valley. Commun Earth Environ 5, 103 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01220-1
8. Moran, P., Bravo, M.A., Silva-Morales, I. et al. Current-use pesticides in vegetation, topsoil and water reveal contaminated landscapes of the Upper Rhine Valley, Germany. Commun Earth Environ 6, 123 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02118-2
9. U.S. Geological Survey. Protecting Protected Land from Pesticides. California Water Science Center. https://www.usgs.gov/centers/california-water-science-center/news/protecting-protected-land-pesticides
10. Kumar, A., Choudhary, A., Kaur, H. Current status of pesticide effects on environment, human health and it’s eco-friendly management as bioremediation: A comprehensive review. Front Microbiol 13:898992 (2022). doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.898992
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12. Bale, J.S., van Lenteren, J.C., Bigler, F. Biological control and sustainable food production. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 363(1492):761-76 (2008). doi: 10.1098/rstb.2007.2182
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14. Angon, P.B., Mondal, S., Islam, M.S. et al. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Agriculture and Its Role in Maintaining Ecological Balance and Biodiversity. Advances in Agriculture 2023:5546373 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/5546373
15. Landis, D.A., Wratten, S.D., Gurr, G.M. Habitat management to conserve natural enemies of arthropod pests in agriculture. Annu Rev Entomol 45:175-201 (2000). doi: 10.1146/annurev.ento.45.1.175
16. World Health Organization. Pesticide residues in food. Fact Sheet (2022). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/pesticide-residues-in-food
17. van Lenteren, J.C. A greenhouse without pesticides: fact or fantasy? Crop Prot 19(6):375-84 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-2194(00)00038-7