RestPoll - Restoring pollinators in Europe: Evidence-based actions for Nature Restoration Plans
The European pollinator restoration, Restpoll, has launched a policy brief to support action under the EU Nature Restoration Law. It's also highly relevant to the UK Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 (Goal 1: Restored Nature).
The content is underpinned by the Conservation Evidence database. Zoology and CRI's Will Morgan and Lynn Dicks of the Agroecology group are both authors.
This policy brief summarizes expert knowledge on what really works to protect pollinators. To guide and assist national governments and other relevant governmental bodies in the endeavor to stop and reverse pollinator decline, this brief is intended for everyone interested in pollinator and nature restoration and the Nature Restoration Regulations, from local practitioners to national and international governmental agencies.
A key message is that more high-quality and better-connected habitats and a reduction in the intensity of highly intensive land use—for example, using fewer pesticides and adapted mowing and grazing systems—are effective measures for pollinator restoration. Implementation of these measures not only strengthens pollinator populations but also enhances our environmental and economic resilience. Pollinator restoration isn’t just for agricultural areas; it is also very effective in urban green spaces, where it provides opportunities for people to connect with nature and, in turn, foster a stronger commitment to protecting it.
Pollinator restoration can be both ecologically sound and cost-effective. Creating multifunctional landscapes that strengthen pollinator populations will also deliver broader benefits for biodiversity, soil and water health, sustainable agriculture, climate mitigation, and community well-being. It can also reduce reliance on chemical inputs, supporting long-term environmental and economic resilience.
Knapp, J., Dicks, L., Kranke, N., Morgan, W., Potts, S., Smith, H.G., Stout, J., Thijssen, M., Thompson, A., Klein, A.M. (2026). Restoring pollinators in Europe: Evidence- based actions for Nature Restoration Plans. Policy brief written by RestPoll (EU Horizon project No. 101082102). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18655302