Pollinators are essential for orchard, horticultural and forage production, as well as the production of seed for many root and fibre crops. Nonetheless, mounting evidence points to a potentially serious decline in populations of pollinators under agricultural development. The Rapid Assessment of Pollinators' Status was compiled and prepared by FAO as a contribution to the implementation of the International Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Pollinators. Its aim is to address the issue of declining pollinator populations around the globe, using case studies and technical reports collected from around the world. The rapid assessment includes chapters on: (i) Monitoring the status and trends of pollinators; (ii) Economic valuation of pollination services; (iii) The taxonomic impediment to pollinator conservation; (iv) State of ecological knowledge of pollination services; (v) Indigenous knowledge of pollination; (vi) Promotion of pollinator-friendly practices; (vii) Capacity building in conservation and management of pollination services; and (viii) Mainstreaming conservation and management of pollination services.