A new study published in Science shows that bees, bumblebees, and butterflies need much more space for pollinator recovery than is currently stipulated in EU directives. 

Led by Wageningen University & Research and co-authored by Associate Professor Dara Stanley, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, the research underlines that habitat quality also needs to be taken into account.

Insects contribute to ecosystem services by pollinating crops, but their populations have been declining for years. This new study shows that better managing existing natural habitats, such as hedges, woodlots and extensive grasslands, helps but is insufficient to halt pollinator loss. Pollinators also need more habitat. 

To achieve this, the EU Biodiversity Strategy aims to bring back high-diversity landscape features in 10% of the agricultural landscape. The current study, based on 59 studies worldwide, shows that these insects need more habitat, namely between 16 and 37% habitat coverage in farmland areas for effective protection.

The study examined how the area and quality of natural habitats influence the populations of wild bees, bumblebees, hoverflies, and butterflies. For all species groups, this simple relationship rang true: the more natural habitat, the more pollinators in farmland areas. Habitats with more flowering plants also harboured more pollinators of all groups than areas with few flowers. “However,” first author Gabriella Bishop said, “it is better to focus on increasing the area of natural habitats first, instead of on managing small habitats, even when they have many flowers.”

Pollinator conservation in Europe focuses heavily on temporary measures on small areas of productive land, such as wildflower strips along crops. Previous research has shown that this does lead to a temporary increase in insects and pollinators. However, the new study shows that much more habitat is needed and that the quality of the new habitats must be guaranteed in the long term. 

There is increasing evidence that biodiversity is important, not just for nature, but also for people. Pollinators, for instance, ensure the production of many of the crops that people rely on for food. 

Co-author Associate Professor Dara Stanley said, “"Pollinators are important for the production of 75% crops globally, and the reproduction of over 90% of our wild plants. Our current targets of having 10% natural habitat on farmland are not enough to ensure their conservation".

Last author Thijs Fijen said, “To really make a difference, it should be possible to reward farmers for the long-term creation and maintenance of new natural habitats on their farms. This means 20-30 years, otherwise it results in too much insecurity for farmers and benefits for pollinators will be too low.” 

The recently adopted EU Nature Restoration Regulation therefore aims to halt the decline of biodiversity in general and in pollinators specifically. Restoring or protecting natural habitats in agricultural landscapes is an important tool in that strategy. EU member states are currently developing concrete action plans for how they want to achieve this. 

Find the paper here.