Europe’s wild pollinators — including solitary bees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths — are in steep decline: nearly 40 % of hoverfly species, 20 % of butterfly species and 9 % of bee species in Europe are currently threatened.

The major pressures driving this decline include: loss of semi-natural habitats due to intensive agriculture or abandonment of extensive farming; excessive pesticide use; loss of nesting sites (e.g., deadwood, veteran trees); invasive alien species; and climate change with increased extreme weather events.

The regulatory response: under the Nature Restoration Regulation (adopted in 2024), EU Member States are legally required to halt and reverse pollinator decline by 2030, and to establish a robust, standardised monitoring framework for pollinator populations.

For agronomists and land-managers: the message is clear. We need to shift from incremental biodiversity measures to integrated approaches that restore habitat quality and connectivity, reduce chemical loads, and monitor outcomes. Simply maintaining “set-aside” land isn’t enough if it lacks the complexity and diversity pollinators need.