New pollinator project

The five-year project Conservation and Management of Pollinators for Sustainable Agriculture through an Ecosystem Approach, worth US$26.45 million (€20.40 m), has been launched by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to better protect bees, bats and birds that are essential for the world’s crop production. The unique project will be implemented through the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and will help ensure food security through the protection of the key pollinator species.

The project is co-ordinated by FAO (UN Food and Agriculture Organization). It will be executed through partnerships with the Governments of Brazil, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan and South Africa in collaboration with stakeholders from different environmental and agricultural communities at national and international level, including ministries, research institutions, agencies, academia, NGOs, private sector and farming communities. The GEF will contribute US$7.8 million (€6.01 m) and leverage another US$18.65 million (€14.38 m) from other partners including multilateral organisations, governments and academic institutions. Pollinators such as bats, bees, birds, butterflies and even mosquitoes are essential for food production because of their role in pollination.

Pollinators also have a key role in maintaining ecosystem services including ensuring biodiversity and helping nature to adjust to external threats such as climate change. For these reasons, pollinators are known as keystone species in many terrestrial habitats. The main threats to pollinators can be linked to disease, pesticide use, habitat loss and degradation, monocultures and the introduction of exotic species, causing concern to agricultural producers and conservationists. This project will contribute to the conservation, sustainable use and management of pollinators by:

1. Developing and implementing tools, methodologies, strategies and best management practices for pollinator conservation and sustainable use;

2. Building local, national, regional and global capacities to enable the design, planning and implementation of interventions to mitigate pollinator population declines, and establish sustainable pollinator management practices:

3. Promoting the co-ordination and integration of activities related to the conservation and sustainable use of pollinators at the international level to enhance global synergies.

More information www.unep.org/documents (search for ‘pollinator’)