Line of action:

Terrestrial ecosystems

Status:

Finalizado

Execution date:

2020

Total budget:

€103,024.00

Amount of aid from the Biodiversity Foundation:

€72,117.50

Pollinators play an essential role in the functioning of ecosystems and are vital for the primary agricultural sector.
A clear decline has been detected in many of the species, with a multifactorial cause in which the loss of feeding and reproduction habitat plays a fundamental role.
In response to this situation, Spain has drawn up the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Pollinators (approved in September 2020) which addresses different areas of action, including the promotion of their nesting, feeding and shelter habitat, as well as the conduct of research on the contributions or direct effects of organic production on pollinator populations.
This initiative carries out different actions that fit with these thematic areas, and also includes the study of the effect of this decline on secondary consumers.

The main objective is to promote the increase of pollinator populations and other invertebrates. Its specific goals include:

• To know the effect of habitat loss on both pollinators and other invertebrates and on species that feed on them, both in urban and rural environments.
• Increase feeding, shelter and breeding habitat for wild pollinators.
• To verify the positive effect of organic farming, restoration actions and the interaction between the two, on pollinators, on other invertebrates and on secondary consumers.
• To make citizens aware of the value of pollinators and to raise awareness of the problems associated with their decline.

• To quantify the richness and abundance of pollinators (diurnal and nocturnal lepidoptera, beetles, hymenoptera and floricolous diptera), as well as other invertebrates that are common prey for insectivorous fauna.
• At the same time, standardized censuses of passerines and nightjars will be carried out.
• Study of the effect of invertebrate decline on urban populations of European scops owl (Otus scops).
• Restore breeding, feeding and shelter habitat for pollinators in rainfed agricultural environments through the planting of boundaries with a mixture of seeds of native plants selected for their role.
• Advise local administrations on the management of green areas focused on increasing biodiversity.
• Restore habitat for invertebrates in urban environments through the creation of reserves that increase the availability of flowers and increase the abundance and diversity of pollinators.
• To study the effectiveness of ecological management in agriculture, of habitat restoration and of the interaction between the two, in the promotion of pollinators.
• Develop environmental education actions, with talks and conferences on the problems suffered by pollinators and the effects of their decline on the environment and for the rural economy.
• Carry out communication and dissemination actions of the actions and results.

• 63 censuses of invertebrates, 18 of nocturnal birds and 45 of diurnal birds have been carried out.
  The results have been used to create a database of more than 7,000 entries on biodiversity in agricultural boundaries.
• 18 km of agricultural boundaries have been sown with 60 kilos of seeds of native plant species and more than 1,000 native seedlings of 15 different species have been planted.
• Six islands of biodiversity have been installed in five parks in Madrid: Jardines del Buen Retiro, Parque del Oeste, Dehesa de la Villa, Quinta de Torre Arias and Casa de Campo.
• A greater abundance and richness of pollinators has been demonstrated in ecological environments, with greater diversity of flora and fauna, than in more homogeneous conventional cultivation environments.
• Three manuals have been published, one for professionals and two for general dissemination on orchards and gardens.
• A training programme has been carried out with more than 30 activities aimed at both the general public and professionals in the sector.