Stark pollinator warning: birds, bumblebees and butterflies need more habitat to survive

The EU’s 10% natural habitat target is insufficient for pollinator recovery, say scientists — they need 16-37% habitat coverage in farmland ares for effective protection

The study examined how the area and quality of natural habitats influence the populations of wild bees, bumblebees, hoverflies, and butterflies. For all species groups, this simple relationship rang true: the more natural habitat, the more pollinators in farmland areas. Habitats with more flowering plants also harbour more pollinators of all groups than areas with few flowers. Bumblebee on sunflower in Ballintemple, Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

Bees, bumblebees and butterflies have too little natural habitat around them to survive, according to a new study.

The TCD study shows that insects need much more space to recover than current aims set out in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 — and it also emphasises that habitat quality must be taken more into account.