The western Himalayas are more than dramatic landscapes, they are one of the planet’s most biologically diverse mountain systems and a critical refuge for pollinators. Sitting at the crossroads of the Palearctic and Oriental biogeographic realms, the region hosts unique communities of bees, butterflies, moths and hoverflies, each adapted to distinct altitudinal zones from subtropical valleys to alpine meadows above 4,000 metres.

Pollinators here sustain economies as well as ecosystems. Apple production in Himachal Pradesh, for example, depends heavily on native Apis cerana and Bombus species, with cross-pollination increasing yields by 40–60%. Beyond agriculture, pollinators contribute to medicinal plant regeneration, timber productivity, and even ecotourism. Yet, research gaps remain striking: alpine solitary bees lack population data, nocturnal pollination systems are virtually undocumented, and butterfly species above 3,500 metres face heightened climate vulnerability.

As warming accelerates and land use shifts, pollinators are moving upslope, altering phenological rhythms and pressing ecosystems into new dynamics. Immediate action is needed: comprehensive taxonomic surveys, DNA barcoding, climate-resilient conservation strategies, habitat restoration at scale, and national pollinator protection policies informed by both science and traditional knowledge.

The lesson is clear: protecting pollinators in mountain ecosystems is not just about conservation—it is about safeguarding the biodiversity “infrastructure” that underpins food security, livelihoods, and resilience in the face of climate change.