POLLINATORS POLLINATION AND FOOD PRODUCTION

THE ASSESSMENT REPORT ON POLLINATORS, POLLINATION AND FOOD PRODUCTION
6.4.6.1 Summary of experience across
sectors
Across the policy sectors in this section (agriculture,
pesticides, nature conservation, managed pollinators and
urban/transport infrastructure), some common themes
emerge about available responses and the evidence for
their effectiveness.
Technical responses are the most widely established and the
most scientifically tested. For many of those relating to land
management, such as planting flowers, or restoring seminatural
habitat, there is high confidence in positive effects
on pollinators themselves, with many studies showing that
pollinators make use of new resources provided for them
(biodiversity). There is much less evidence of longer-term
effects on pollinator populations, and limited evidence of
effects on pollination.
Economic and legal responses tend to be established, with
some evidence of impacts on pollinators and pollination.
Regulatory control through obligatory registration and
standards (legal responses) are most strongly established
in the pesticides sector (6.4.2), and there is evidence they
reduce risks to pollinators. Among economic market-based
instruments, voluntary incentives such as certification or agrienvironment
schemes are established in some regions in the
agriculture and managed pollinator sectors (6.4.1 and 6.4.4).
Taxes, which are obligatory market-based instruments, have
been proposed to discourage pesticide use, but not tested.
Social/behavioural responses, even those that are
established, seldom have robust evidence of effectiveness.
Many examples come from indigenous and traditional
knowledge, such as voluntary codes of practice among
farming and beekeeping communities and community
groups working together (6.4.1 and 6.4.4).
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TABLE 6.4.5
Summary of evidence for responses relating to nature conservation
6. RESPONSES TO RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES ASSOCIATED
WITH POLLINATORS AND POLLINATION
Response Main Drivers Type of response Status Scientific evidence
Manage or restore native habitat
patches to support pollinators
Increase connectivity of habitat
patches
Manage invasive species (plants,
pests, predators or pollinators)
that diminish pollinators or
pollinator habitat
Targeted conservation of
specific pollinator species or
groups of species (includes ex
situ conservation of threatened
species, includes species of
special cultural value)
Targeted conservation of
pollinators associated with
specific plant species threatened
by pollination deficit
Establish protected areas or
improve the quality of existing
ones (including protected areas
of cultural value)
Payment for ecosystem services
Maintain sacred and other
culturally protected areas that
support pollinators
Increase taxonomic expertise
on pollinator groups (formal
education/training) and
technology to support discovery
and identification
Land use and its changes
(2.1)
Changes in land cover
and spatial configuration
(2.1.2)
Technical
6.4.3.1.1.
Technical
6.4.3.1.2.
Invasive species Technical
6.4.3.1.4.
Multiple, interacting
threats
Multiple, interacting
threats
Land use and its changes
(2.1)
Land use and its changes
(2.1)
Land use and its changes
(2.1)
All
Technical
6.4.3.1.5.
Technical
6.4.3.1.5.
Established
Tested
Tested
Tested
Tested
Increases diversity and abundance of
pollinating insects
WELL ESTABLISHED
Some evidence that habitat
connections help pollinator movement
and gene flow
ESTABLISHED BUT INCOMPLETE
Case study evidence of some benefits
to pollinator species, but eradication is
difficult to achieve
ESTABLISHED BUT INCOMPLETE
Examples exist for a limited range of
taxa
ESTABLISHED BUT INCOMPLETE
One European example known, for
dittany
(Dictamnus albus)
INCONCLUSIVE
Legal 6.4.3.2.2 Established Protected areas host species diversity,
but it is difficult to determine the
impact of legislation in achieving
protection
WELL ESTABLISHED
Economic 6.4.3.3. Tested Ecosystems services payments have
been established for other services
(watershed protection, carbon
sequestration) but no examples for
pollination
ESTABLISHED BUT INCOMPLETE
Social/Behavioural
6.4.3.2.2
Knowledge
6.4.3.5.
Established
Tested
Protected areas host species diversity,
but few case studies
ESTABLISHED BUT INCOMPLETE
(see also 5.4.2.4)
Significant training has been achieved
in a number of countries
WELL ESTABLISHED