Pollinator Conservation and Ecosystem Services
Summary
Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, flies and other insects, underpin the reproduction of the majority of flowering plants and contribute directly to the yield and quality of many crops. Through the delivery of pollination services they maintain biodiversity, support ecosystem resilience and furnish vital benefits to human societies, from food security to cultural and aesthetic values. In recent decades, global declines in pollinator abundance and diversity have been driven by habitat loss and fragmentation, intensive agricultural practices, pesticide exposure, climate change and the spread of pests and pathogens. Conservation strategies now seek to reconcile agricultural production with habitat restoration, landscape heterogeneity and the promotion of floral and nesting resources. Integrating ecological research with socio-economic and policy instruments has become essential to sustain pollination services at scales ranging from local farms to global food systems. Effective conservation demands a mix of protected areas, agri-environment measures, farmer engagement and citizen science, all underpinned by better understanding of species’ ecological requirements and the drivers of change.
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Pollinator Conservation and Ecosystem Services publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in pollinator conservation and ecosystem services across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Pollination service: The process by which pollen is transferred between flowers by animals, enabling plant fertilisation and seed production.
Ecosystem service: A beneficial function performed by an ecosystem that supports human well-being, such as food provision, biological control or cultural inspiration.
Biopesticide: A pest-control agent derived from natural organisms (microbial, biochemical or plant-incorporated), often assumed less harmful than synthetic chemicals.
Sublethal effect: An adverse impact on an organism’s physiology or behaviour that does not cause immediate death but may impair survival or reproduction.
Horizon scanning: A systematic process for identifying and prioritising emerging issues and potential future challenges in a given field.
Co-production: A collaborative approach in which multiple stakeholders contribute knowledge and values to the design and implementation of policy or management interventions.
References
- Toxicity and Risk of Biopesticides to Insect Pollinators in Urban and Agricultural Landscapes. Agrochemicals (2024).
- Co-producing agricultural policy with beekeepers: Obstacles and opportunities. Land Use Policy (2023).
- A horizon scan of future threats and opportunities for pollinators and pollination. PeerJ (2016).
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