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Our new publication, Working Together for Biodiversity, explores what has been achieved through the All–Ireland Pollinator Plan in its first five years.

Pollinators are in decline, with one–third of our 98 wild bee species threatened with extinction from the island of Ireland. In publishing the All–Ireland Pollinator Plan (AIPP) in September 2015, Ireland became one of the first countries in Europe to address this issue – in order to ensure the sustainability of our food, avoid additional economic impacts on agriculture, and protect the health of the environment. As a shared plan of action, it is about coming together to work strategically and cohesively, so that collectively we can reverse pollinator losses and help restore healthy populations. This voluntary Plan identified 81 actions, shared out between over 100 governmental and non–governmental organisations.

Our current landscape does not provide enough food or safe nesting sites for pollinators. A large focus of the Plan is to identify actions to improve the quality and amount of flower–rich habitat. Actions range from creating pollinator highways along our transport routes, to supporting pollinators on farmland, in gardens, businesses, and on public land. We have tried to ensure that everyone understands what pollinators need, and what simple, cost–effective and evidence–based actions they can take to help. All resources are freely available at www.pollinators.ie

The last five years have seen the delivery of all 81 actions in the 2015–2020 Plan. Across all sectors, the number of engaged individuals and organisations continues to increase. We are working with farmers to develop a framework by which all farms can become more pollinator–friendly; 55% of all Councils across the island have become partners; hundreds of local communities have embraced the initiative; and already 270 businesses have come on board and agreed to take actions.

Read full publication

here…