More flowers for pollinators: the EU initiative

Europe, as well as the rest of the world, is facing a dramatic decline of wild pollinators. The situation is worrying: about one in three species of bees, butterflies and hoverflies is in decline. Even more worrying is the fact that one in ten bee and butterfly species and one in three hoverfly species are threatened with extinction. Alarming numbers that, however, probably do not effectively convey the true extent of the problem. Indeed, for more than half of all bee species, there is insufficient data to assess their status or development. The decline of these important pollinating insects has considerable consequences, starting with food production and ending with ecosystem integrity. In this context, the EU has adopted a plan to tackle the crisis, which aims to improve the nutrition of bees and pollinating insects and to promote biodiversity.

The European Union recognised the urgent need to counter the decline of pollinators and therefore adopted, in 2018, the first EU framework to tackle this problem. From the outset, the initiative attracted great public interest and received strong support from various stakeholders. The European Green Deal further strengthened the goals of the initiative by committing to strong environmental and climate measures. In 2023, the pollinator initiative was updated. In June 2022, the Commission presented a Nature Restoration Bill to legally oblige EU Member States to reverse the course of decline in pollinator populations by 2030. This proposal complements the updated Pollinator Initiative and gives Member States the flexibility needed to determine the most effective measures within their national restoration plans.

The pollinator initiative sets some goals for 2030 that include three main priorities:
- Improving knowledge of pollinator decline, its causes and consequences;
- Combat the causes of the decline of pollinators and improve their conservation;
- Promote the mobilisation of society, strategic planning and cooperation at all levels.
The introduction of monitoring of pollinators will help to better map rare and threatened pollinator species. This data and information should be used to fine-tune conservation and restoration measures, as well as to designate new protected areas within the EU target. 3Bee uses the same approach: to date, we have created 115 oases, monitoring biodiversity through innovative proprietary technologies, with the aim of obtaining tangible data and introducing targeted measures for biodiversity restoration.

The new regulations introduced by the EU provide for farmers to be offered incentives for planting certain flower species beneficial to bees and pollinating insects. The EU provides non-refundable incentives of up to EUR 500 per hectare for the cultivation of flowers that favour nectar and pollination from 1 May to 15 October, for at least four years. From germination to the end of flowering, no mowing or cutting of plants is permitted. The use of chemical herbicides and other pesticides is prohibited in the commitment area and weeds must be removed manually or mechanically. Varieties of pollinator-friendly plants include basil, marigold, artichoke, dandelion, alfalfa, some sunflower species, lavender, lemon balm, mint, oregano, poppy and rosemary. This strategy not only serves to protect bees and biodiversity, but also promotes the circular economy at the local level.

In this context, 3Bee fits in with the project 'Oases of Biodiversity': urban and agroforestry oases of biodiversity, with refuges for pollinators and native flora. Certified places with traceable impact, playing a key role in the regeneration of ecosystems. 3Bee's work is in line with the objectives of the EU's pollinator-friendly initiative and makes a concrete and significant contribution to the overall efforts for the protection of biodiversity in Europe. Contact us to learn more and contribute to the growth and monitoring of Europe's largest ecological corridor.