Pollination is a pivotal function in all terrestrial ecosystems, binding together the fate of plants and animals. Plants use animals for sexual reproduction and for pollen transportation and offer rewards such as nectar, pollen, oils and aromatic compounds in return. In this way, pollination sustains biodiversity. Pollination is also highly important to global crop production and ensuring supplies of food.
 Pollination as an ecosystem service

Pollinators account for a major share of global biodiversity in their own right. Wild bees and flies are two very diverse groups of species responsible for pollinating many flowering plants. Other animal groups also contribute to pollination, however, including butterflies, beetles, some birds, mammals, bats and even marsupials.
 Pollinator biodiversity

Protecting pollinators is an essential part of biodiversity conservation.
The São Paulo Declaration on Pollinators was adopted in 1998 under the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD). The Declaration provides for the conservation and sustainable use of pollinators as an important part of the CBD Programme of Work on Agricultural Biodiversity. A plan of action for the conservation of pollinators was adopted in CBD Decision VI/5. International pollinator initiatives under the leadership of the FAO work jointly with regional pollinator initiatives to safeguard the ecosystem service provided by pollinators.
Pollinators are exposed to numerous threats and pressures, however, and there are many signs that they are in decline. There is therefore an urgent need to improve our understanding of pollinators and to conduct research and projects to sustain pollinator populations in our countryside.

English BfN publications and other publications on the subject
 Publications