Back in 2022, the Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities (CETAF) joined other leading experts in supporting a standardised EU-wide monitoring scheme to protect pollinators — essential species that underpin biodiversity, ecosystems, and vital industries. As part of the STING initiative (Science and Technology for Pollinating Insects), CETAF helped to develop a methodology that will lay the foundation for the ‘EU Pollinator Monitoring Scheme’ (EU PoMS), in line with the revised EU Pollinators Initiative, aimed at improving knowledge of pollinator decline.
Pollinators such as wild bees, hoverflies, and butterflies are crucial for maintaining biodiversity and sustaining natural ecosystems. Their contributions extend beyond nature, driving key industries like agriculture, textiles, and pharmaceuticals. Yet, these invaluable species face alarming global population declines, a crisis projected to reduce global agricultural output by an estimated 5–8%.
Reversing this decline is possible through targeted monitoring and coordinated efforts. The newly adopted Nature Restoration Law highlights the critical need for a robust, harmonised monitoring system to provide accurate data on pollinator populations.
In October 2024, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) introduced a Refined Proposal for an EU-wide pollinator monitoring scheme based on the outcomes of STING-2. Developed with input from nearly 30 leading experts, including CETAF’s Executive Director, this proposal establishes standardised methods for monitoring key pollinator species—wild bees, hoverflies, butterflies, and moths. As such, it forms the foundation of the EU Pollinator Monitoring Scheme.
Key features of the proposal include:
These tools will generate critical data to guide restoration efforts, ensuring ecosystems and industries reliant on pollinators remain sustainable.
As the next step, CETAF is participating in the follow-up activity, STING+ project, which aims to build on the current framework, deepening efforts to protect pollinator species and secure their future role in sustaining biodiversity and human well-being.
