Which of the following is included in the definition of sensitive areas?

Sensitive areas refer to locations that require special consideration regarding pesticide application due to their vulnerability to chemical exposure and potential negative impacts on health and the environment. Apiaries, which are areas where beehives are kept, are particularly sensitive since bees are crucial for pollination and can be adversely affected by pesticide applications.

The importance of protecting apiaries lies in the role bees play in the ecosystem and agriculture. Many pesticides can harm bee populations, leading to declines in pollinator numbers and affecting biodiversity as well as food production. Consequently, apiaries are designated as sensitive areas to ensure that pesticide applications do not harm these vital organisms.

While parks and recreational facilities may also be considered sensitive depending on their use and proximity to people, they do not have the same direct environmental impact as apiaries concerning wildlife and biodiversity. Commercial buildings are primarily human-centered environments and do not fit the traditional definition of a sensitive area regarding ecological systems. Agricultural fields, although important, do not individually represent the same level of ecological sensitivity as a bee population.