Draft action plan for pollinators

Pollinators are an essential part of our environment. Honey bees are the main managed pollinator of crops and also provide a crop (honey) themselves.

Wild pollinators which include bumblebees and butterflies are also important pollinators for crops like fruit and oil seed rape for clovers which help to improve pastures for livestock grazing and wild flowers. They contribute to the diversity of plant species habitats and wildlife. This provides food makes Wales a better place for people to enjoy and visit and contributes to our economy.

Why is pollination important?

Pollination is a very important service. 20% of the UK cropped area contains crops which are dependent on pollinators. A lot of wild flowering plants also depend on insect pollination for reproduction. The value of pollinators to UK agriculture is estimated to be at least £430m per year.

What is the problem?

The National Ecosystem Assessment carried out in 2011 showed that both managed pollinators (honey bees) and wild pollinators (such as bumblebees and butterflies) have been declining for 30 years. It is likely that this will continue if we don’t act now.

What we are proposing

This Action Plan for Pollinators will be developed with the public and private sectors. It will help us identify how we might slow and reverse the decline in pollinator numbers.