Project Deliverables

Safeguard is dedicated to inspiring the creation of management and policy guidelines for both the public and private sectors to protect wild pollinators and the invaluable benefits they provide. The project is organized into 8 work packages (WPs), which seamlessly integrate research across ecological, economic, social, and policy dimensions of pollinator diversity and the multiple ecosystem services they support. Below, we present the key deliverables that document the essential findings of these work packages, offering actionable insights to safeguard pollinators and promote sustainable practices.

1

Re-assessing the status and trends of European pollinators

(Lead: CSIC; UMONS). Safeguard will mobilise EU experts and data, following the IUCN Red List process, to (i) perform a re-assessment of the European bee and butterfly Red Lists; (ii) provide the first national bee Red Lists for Mediterranean countries; and (iii) update checklists for bees in all Member State (MS). Safeguard will also compile and make available distributional and key trait data for bees, butterflies, moths and hoverflies.
  • D1.1 Open database on distributional information on European pollinators (UMONS), restricted
  • D1.2 Open database on pollinators individual-based traits and phylogenies (UNSPMF) Download
  • D1.3 Report on pollinator population trends across scales (CSIC), restricted
  • D1.4 Report on habitat importance for EU pollinators (UNIPD) Download
  • D1.5 Report on plant-pollinator keystone structures describing community robustness (CSIC), restricted
  • D1.6 National IUCN Red lists for EU pollinators (IUCN), not yet published
2

Pressures on wild pollinators and their biotic interactions

(Lead: UFZ; UWUE). WP2 will address knowledge gaps regarding pollinator responses to global change by analysing the cumulative and interacting effects of multiple anthropogenic pressures at the levels of species, communities, plant-pollinator networks and plant reproduction. WP2 combines three complementary and synergistic approaches by (i) synthesising knowledge from data available within Safeguard; (ii) establishing systemic empirical research in the Safeguard modular site network; and (iii) integrative modelling.
  • D2.1 Synthesis report on cross-scale impacts of multiple pressures on pollinators (UFZ), restricted
  • D2.2 Synthesis report on the impacts of multiple pressures on plant-pollinator networks and functional consequences on pollination and plant reproduction (WBF), not yet published
  • D2.3 Report on pressures and suitability of different indicators of pollinator declines in Natura 2000 habitats (UWUE), not yet published
  • D2.4 Report on the impact of plant diversity and landscape composition and configuration on competition for floral resources between wild and managed pollinators (UWUE), not yet published
  • D2.5 Report on the impact of landscape composition and configuration on pollinator movement and plant reproduction (UFZ) , not yet published
  • D2.6 Report on underresearched pressures and mechanism impacting pollinators and plant reproduction (RHUL), not yet published
  • D2.7 Pan-European maps of current and future risks for pollinator assemblages and landscape-level impacts on community assembly processes under global change (UFZ), not yet published
  • D2.8 Model and pan-European maps of emerging plant-pollinator network structure and consequences for pollination services under global change (CSIC) , not yet published
3

Assessing the environmental, socio-cultural and economic values and impacts of pollination services and pollinator-targeted interventions

(Lead: SLU; INRAE). This WP will assess the multiple values associated with pollinators. Building upon the IPBES ‘Pollination’ assessment and ‘Multiple values of nature and its benefits methodological assessment’, we will: (i) assess the co-benefits of interventions; (ii) quantify the wider socio-cultural values of pollinators and pollinator-dependent habitats including their aesthetic, symbolic, cultural, recreational and religious dimensions; (iii) adapt state-of-the-art models of pollinator populations to map and project pollinator natural capital across Europe; (iv) co-develop models to assess the impacts of pollinator losses on value chains, employment and human health for both EU-grown and ex-EU products.
  • D3.1 A handbook of the current knowledge on and approaches to valuing pollination (INRAE) Download
  • D3.2 A framework and protocols for identification and assessment of key environmental co-benefits from pollinator-friendly land management decisions (SLU) Download
  • D3.3 Report on the potential trade-offs/synergies between pollinator conservation and co-benefits across natural, agricultural and urban landscapes (UNIPD), restricted
  • D3.4 Submitted paper on the worldviews and values on pollinators and their decline held by agents of change across Europe (INRAE), restricted
  • D3.5 A fully tested and validated method for assessing the economic costs and benefits of management practices on pollinator natural capital (UREAD) , not yet published
  • D3.6 A toolkit of methodologies to quantify the economic and health impacts of pollination service losses on European food systems (UREAD), not yet published
  • D3.7 A submitted journal paper, popularised version and a policy brief on the strategies to overcome the factors that keep pollinator-unfriendly practices in place (SLU), not yet published
4

Effective responses to counteract wild pollinator decline

(Lead: WU; UNIPD). This WP investigates two broad areas with outstanding knowledge gaps identified by both researchers and stakeholders: (i) novel approaches to test and quantify effectiveness of interventions at the landscape scale; and (ii) opportunities and risks for pollinators from current approaches to mitigate biodiversity loss across agricultural, urban and protected areas.
  • D4.1 Report on the effects of interventions on genetic diversity and functional traits (WBF), not yet published
  • D4.2 Recommendations on how implement effective interventions to enhance pollinators in Natura 2000 areas and in public space (OK) Download
  • D4.3 Report on the potential spill-over of benefits for pollinators from private urban areas to the wider landscape (UNIPD), not yet published
  • D4.4 Guidance on how to apply payment by results as an approach to enhance effectiveness of pollinator promoting subsidies (UBB) Download
  • D4.5 Report outlining opportunities and risks of biodiversity offsetting for pollinator conservation (WU) Download
  • D4.6 Report on the effectiveness of intervention strategies targeting complementary habitats needed by pollinators to complete their lifecycle (UNIPD), not yet published
  • D4.7 Report on methods to upscale effects of multiple interventions at the landscape level (WU), restricted
  • D4.8 Recommendations on optimal implementation of collaborative approaches implementing multiple measures at the landscape-level (WU) , not yet published
5

Integrative Assessment Framework (IAF) socio-ecological concepts, tools and solutions

(Lead: ULUND; INRAE). WP5 will build an Integrative Assessment Framework that uses existing and new knowledge generated by Safeguard, and associated projects, incorporating three key steps: (i) accurately framing the specific problem/issue/aspect; (ii) integrating different knowledge sources; and (iii) experimentation and testing of response options, decision-making processes or tools.
  • D5.1 Report on accuracy and usability of qualitative and quantitative model assessing risks to pollinators (ULUND), restricted
  • D5.2 Demonstrator for decision-support tools for different contexts/sectors/governance levels (ULUND), not yet published
  • D5.3 Report on IAF and its performance when implemented in different governance settings, policy sectors and local case studies (INRAE), not yet published
  • D5.4 Report on Horizon Scanning exercise, identifying emerging risks and opportunities for European wild pollinators (RHUL), not yet published
6

Strengthen pollinator-relevant policy and decision making

(Lead: IEEP; IUCN). This WP will assess current and developing international, EU and MS policies to identify current inclusion and future entry points for Safeguard work. It will develop a roadmap for engaging with EU policies; European Pollinators Initiative (EPI; Nature Directives and Natura 2000; MS implementation and policy tools (CAP Strategic Plans); and Internationally (IPBES, CBD, SDG, UNEP, FAO, IPCC).
  • D6.1 Report on overview of policy opportunities and roadmap that maps Safeguard research processes and outputs with policy opportunities (IEEP) Download
  • D6.2 Reports and briefings from policy workshops and events (together with other communication products produced under T7.4) (IEEP) Download
  • D6.3 Overview of global policy opportunities and roadmap plan that maps Safeguard research processes and outputs onto policy opportunities (IEEP) Download
  • D6.4 Report on the relevance of pollinators across SDGs (UREAD), restricted
  • D6.5 IAF toolkit modules (to form part of the SPM developed in T5.4) (IEEP), not yet published
7

Communication, knowledge exchange and impact development

(Lead: PENSOFT; UREAD). This WP will foster communication, knowledge exchange and impact development. We will bring together Safeguard outputs with other fragmented knowledge sources to feed into the SAFE-Hub knowledge exchange platform as a one-stop place to access data, tools, online GIS maps, practice guides and multi-media materials for policymakers, researchers, industry, NGOs and the public. WP7 will engage widely with the public to raise awareness around pollinator declines to encourage wider societal support for other stakeholders to take positive actions.
  • D7.1 Report on multi-level stakeholder influence mapping and network analysis (UREAD), restricted
  • D7.2 Plan for the Dissemination and Exploitation of Results (PEDR) and project branding (PENSOFT) Download
  • D7.3 Establish the Safeguard Knowledge Exchange Hub (PENSOFT) Download
  • D7.4 Report on the Knowledge exchange plan and Buzzing Tables established (IUCN) Download
  • D7.5 Summary of practice abstracts and other materials produced (PENSOFT), not yet published
8

Coordination and Management

(Lead: UWUE). Safeguard will be led by UWUE providing overall coordination to the consortium. UREAD will provide support as co-coordinator with both partners having complementary expertise and long-standing experience in coordinating EU and other international projects. The external advisory board will foster the implementation and assure continuous multidirectional exchange with the scientific and stakeholder community.
  • D8.1 Web-based project management platform (UWUE) Download
  • D8.2 Strategy for monitoring and mitigating risks (UWUE), restricted
  • D8.3 Data Management Plan (UWUE) Download