Local authorities: busy enough in the battle for Ireland’s bees?

The annual Biodiversity and Councils’ All-Ireland Pollinator conference put the spotlight on local authorities’ vital role in protecting threatened pollinators, writes Ellie O’Byrne

One-third of Ireland’s bee species now face extinction. Habitat loss, pesticide use, and dwindling biodiversity are decimating our 20 native species of bumblebee and 77 species of wild solitary bee.