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<p>The Government has worked closely with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH)
over a number of years on the development of the UK indicator of pollinator trends,
which we publish annually.</p><p> </p><p>This indicator uses much of the same data
as in the CEH paper and shows similar trends. It shows many bee and hoverfly species
have become less widespread since 1980, leading to an overall, long-term decline,
although some species have become more prevalent. It also shows that this overall
decline has slowed, but not ceased, since the 1990s; and that since 2011, overall
trends appear to have stabilised, although a number of individual species continue
to decline.</p><p> </p><p>The Government acknowledges these long-term range contractions
for many species and the changes in distribution amongst different types of pollinators.
In response to the overall reductions we developed a National Pollinator Strategy
(NPS) for England, a 10-year plan published in 2014. A core commitment of the NPS
is to strengthen the evidence base so that we can better meet pollinators’ needs.
We will continue to work with CEH and other research partners, and to understand better
the CEH paper’s analysis of trends in upland areas and in southern Britain, and their
impact across the UK.</p><p> </p><p>As part of ongoing work to improve the evidence
base, CEH coordinates the UK-wide Pollinator Monitoring Scheme, which is part-funded
by Government. It is the only scheme in the world generating systematic data on the
abundance of bees, hoverflies and other flower-visiting insects at a national level.
Furthermore, in March 2019, Defra published up-to-date evidence statements on UK pollinators
and pollination services, to which CEH and other leading institutions contributed.</p><p>
</p><p>We know that pollinators add substantial economic value to crop production
through improving crop quality and quantity. Pollination’s economic benefit to UK
crop production is approximately half a billion GBP annually, through increased yields
of oilseed rape, fruit and vegetables. These crops are especially vulnerable to pollinator
declines. There is no clear evidence, however, that UK crop pollination is being impacted,
although a study has identified sub-optimal pollination in gala apples for example.</p><p>
</p><p>We are also working with researchers to understand better such potential risks
of pollinator declines to food production and biodiversity, and to better inform land
management approaches. For example, the University of Reading is leading a three-year
Research Council-funded project on mapping and managing risks to pollinators across
the UK, to help support sustainable and resilient crop production and maintain sufficient
pollination services.</p><p> </p><p>The NPS also commits us to provide habitat for
pollinators. Certainly, we have seen success when landowners, farmers, conservation
groups and Government collaborate to create new habitats and support reintroductions
of lost species such as the barberry carpet moth, short-haired bumblebee and chequered
skipper butterfly. We will continue to work in partnership with scientists and with
practitioners to build on such successes and to see many more of our wonderful, vital
insects thrive.</p>
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