All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2015-2020 ISSN 2009-6844 www.biodiversityireland.ie/pollinator-plan Pollinator Plan This Plan was initiated by Úna FitzPatrick (National total of 70 organisations were invited to comment Biodiversity Data Centre) and Jane Stout (Trinity on the Plan. The stakeholder engagement was not an College Dublin), and then developed by a fifteen exhaustive process and it is acknowledged that not all member All-Ireland steering group. The final Plan was relevant organisations will have been contacted. It is produced by the steering group following a consultation hoped that more organisations will come on board to phase, which included both public and stakeholder support the Plan over the coming years. engagement. During the stakeholder engagement a Pollinator Plan Steering Group Member Affiliation Dr Úna FitzPatrick (chair) National Biodiversity Data Centre Dr Jane Stout (deputy chair) Trinity College Dublin Ms Catherine Bertrand Butterfly Conservation NI Mr Ken Bradley DOE Environmental Policy Division Dr Gerry Clabby Local Authorities: Fingal County Council Ms Catherine Keena Teagasc Dr Damian McFerran Centre for Environmental Data and Recording (CEDaR) Dr John McMullan Honeybee expert Dr Archie Murchie Agri-Food and Biosciences NI Dr Tomás Murray National Biodiversity Data Centre Dr Brian Nelson National Parks and Wildlife Service Dr Vincent O’Malley Transport Infrastructure Ireland Ms Melina Quinn Northern Ireland Environment Agency Dr Veronica Santorum Limerick’s Buzzing Mr Jerome Walsh Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine The Pollinator Plan was developed by the steering group and published by the National Biodiversity Data Centre. Suggested citation: All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2015-2020. National Biodiversity Data Centre Series No. 3, Waterford. The National Biodiversity Data Centre is an initiative of the Heritage Council and is operated under a service level agreement by Compass Informatics. The Centre is funded by the Department of the Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht and the Heritage Council. Thanks to botanical artist, Shevaun Doherty, for the front cover painting - Garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum) on Knapweed. 2 Foreword I am delighted to provide the foreword for this All-Ireland Pollinator Plan. The publication of such a Plan on an All-Ireland basis is indicative of the fact that there is a real issue to resolve, and very importantly that the actions identified, if implemented, will contribute considerably to reversing pollinator decline. Everyone has responsibility to ensure implementation. Gone are the days when we can choose to ignore warning signs. Our science is sound, the data are available and everyone knows what has to be done. Our concern has to be to get it done within the timeframes identified and to secure the resources that are required. The alternative is not acceptable, and should not be acceptable to anyone. Those champions of this initiative that gave of their time so freely as part of the steering group deserve both congratulations and ongoing support. The actions that have been identified are relevant to the public as a whole. They will improve the quality of the places in which we live, and work, and which we encourage tourists to visit. The Plan is about improving the quality of our environment, our sense of well-being, and our own contentment when we make things better than they were. That is the least we should be committed to doing. The Heritage Council will continue to find ways to encourage others to play a fuller part in the implementation of this Plan. Michael Starrett Chief Executive The Heritage Council July 2015 3 The plan has All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 5 objectives: 2015-2020 Creating an Ireland where pollinators can 1 Making Ireland pollinator friendly survive and thrive By focusing on actions that can be taken on farmland, public land and private land, we want to Irish pollinators are in decline. The problem is serious and achieve a joined-up network of diverse and flower- requires immediate attention to ensure the sustainability rich habitats to support pollinators across Ireland. of our food production, avoid additional economic impact on the agricultural sector, and protect the health of the 2 Raising awareness of pollinators and how environment. to protect them By working together we want to achieve an Solit ary be increased awareness of the importance of e ( La si This is a shared plan of action. By working pollinators and the resources they need to survive. og lo s su m together we can collectively take steps to c a lc reverse pollinator losses and help restore 3 Managed pollinators – supporting e a t u m populations to healthy levels. Over the beekeepers and growers ) © next five years, this Plan will build a solid By supporting beekeepers and growers we want to S t e v e foundation to bring about a landscape achieve healthy, sustainable populations of managed n F a where pollinators can flourish. pollinators that can play a full role in delivering l k pollination services. The loss of natural and semi-natural habitats has been a key driver in 4 Expanding our knowledge on pollinators pollinator declines. At its core, this Plan and pollination service is about providing food and shelter across By continually addressing gaps in our knowledge all types of land so that our pollinators can through research, we want to achieve an evidence survive and thrive. It creates a framework to base that directs us towards the best and most bring together pollinator initiatives across the cost-effective ways to protect our pollinators into island, so that with coordination and cooperation we the future. can achieve our goal. 5 Collecting evidence to track change and If we don’t protect our pollinators it will affect the food measure success industry. Without the pollination service freely provided By building up our knowledge on where pollinators by our bees and hoverflies, it would be increasingly occur and how they are changing (including in difficult and expensive for farmers to produce some response to management actions) we want to crops at current scales, and could result in a loss of achieve a dynamic Plan that is targeted and effective. consumer choice for Irish grown products. The beauty of the Irish landscape would also be affected without pollinators to maintain the diversity of our wild plants and support healthy ecosystems. 4 g n zi z u B ’s k ic r e im L Who is involved? This Plan is a call to action. Every one of us can help. At time of print, the following organisations have agreed to support this Plan and are committed to working together on its implementation. This is not a closed list, it is hoped that during the life of the Plan other organisations will also agree to get involved: • National Biodiversity • Burrenbeo Trust Data Centre • Chartered Institute of Ecology • Trinity College Dublin and Environmental Management • Heritage Council (CIEEM) • Northern Ireland • College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Agency Rural Enterprise, NI (CAFRE) • Department of Arts, Heritage • Community Garden Network and the Gaeltacht (ROI) • Council for Nature Conservation • Department of Agriculture, Food and the Countryside (CNCC) & the Marine (ROI) • Dublin City Council • Department of Agriculture and • Ecoseeds Rural Development (NI) • Environmental Protection • Department of Agency (EPA) • Learning Through Landscapes the Environment (NI) • Fáilte Ireland UK (Polli:Nation) • Agri-Food and Biosciences • Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ • National Botanic Gardens Institute (NI) Associations • National Trust • Transport Infrastructure Ireland • Friends of the Earth Ireland • Native Irish Honey Bee Society • Teagasc • Friends of the Earth Northern • NI Environment Link • CEDaR Ireland • Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) • Butterfly Conservation • Grow It Yourself (GIY) UK • Butterfly Conservation NI • Hedge Laying Association of • OPW • Fingal County Council Ireland • RSPB • Limerick’s Buzzing • Heritage Office of Kilkenny • South and East Cork Area • ABP Food Group County Council Development (SECAD) • An Taisce • Institute of Northern Ireland • Tidy Towns • ARENA Network, Business in the Beekeepers (INIB) • Translink Community NI • Iranród Éireann • Transport NI • Ballyhoura Development Ltd • Irish Organic Farmers and • True Harvest Seeds • Belfast City Council Growers Association • Ulster Beekeepers Association • Belfast Hills Partnership • Irish Peatland Conservation • Ulster Farmers’ Union • BirdWatch Ireland Council (IPCC) • Ulster in Bloom • Bord Bia • Irish Soft Fruit Growers • Ulster Wildlife • Bord Na Mona Association • Waterways Ireland • Bumblebee Conservation • Irish Wildlife Trust • Wexford County Council Trust (UK) • Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful • Woodlands of Ireland 5 How will the What is objectives be pollination achieved? and why is it Some goals may be achieved using existing policies and initiatives. Others will require important? us to do things differently. Pollination occurs when pollen is moved within flowers or carried from flower to flower by pollinating animals Achieving targets through policy and or by the wind. The transfer of pollen between flowers government initiatives of the same species leads to fertilisation, and successful The implementation of these existing policies can seed and fruit production for plants. Pollination ensures contribute to the success of the Pollinator Plan: that the plant will produce full-bodied fruit and viable • Actions for Biodiversity 2011-2016, Ireland’s 2nd seeds. For crop producers this