Europe's Pollinators in Peril: Over 100 More Wild Bee Species Now Threatened

According to a recent conservation assessment, a growing number of wild bees and butterflies across Europe are now facing the risk of extinction. The findings have prompted urgent calls for action to address the "dire" state of the continent's pollinators, which play a crucial role in natural systems and food production.

The latest European-level assessments for the IUCN Red List of threatened species reveal that nearly 100 more wild bee species on the continent are now classified as at risk of extinction, with one in 10 wild bees (172 out of 1,928 assessed species) now threatened. The situation is also severe for Europe's butterflies, with 65 out of 442 assessed species, or 15%, facing the threat of extinction, up from 37 species in 2010.

Experts attribute the decline primarily to habitat loss, as more intensive agriculture, forestry, and land abandonment have destroyed the traditional rural landscapes that these pollinators rely on. Pollution from nitrogen fertilizers and pesticides, as well as the impacts of climate change, are also taking a heavy toll.

Conservationists warn that urgent action is needed to reverse these alarming trends and protect these vital species, which are essential for the health of our ecosystems, food systems, and economies.