Key EU workshop advances pathways for identifying and restoring Key Pollinator Areas and ecological connectivity across Europe

A new workshop report published through the Science Service for Biodiversity outlines concrete pathways for identifying, mapping and restoring Key Pollinator Areas (KPAs) and Buzz Lines - essential landscape connectivity corridors for pollinator movement and resilience across Europe.

The report summarises the outcomes of a two-day expert workshop held in Brussels on 3-4 July 2025, convened by the Pollination Knowledge Exchange Network (KEN) of the Horizon Europe-funded BioAgora project. The workshop responded to a policy request from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV) submitted through the Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD), and supports the implementation of the EU New Deal for Pollinators and the Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR).

A science-informed framework to reverse pollinator decline

Pollinators are essential for ecosystem functioning, food security and biodiversity, yet continue to face steep declines across Europe. The workshop brought together scientific experts, European institutions and EU-funded projects to develop a shared conceptual foundation for KPAs - areas of high importance for pollinator populations - and Buzz Lines, which connect these areas across fragmented landscapes.

Participants agreed on the need for harmonised definitions, transparent criteria and scalable methodologies to ensure that KPAs and Buzz Lines can effectively support Member States in developing National Restoration Plans under the NRR, while complementing existing protected area networks such as Natura 2000.

From concepts to implementation: methods applied and practical value

The report sets out a tiered, evidence-based approach for identifying KPAs and Buzz Lines, combining:

• species distribution models, richness and abundance estimates,
• habitat quality and landscape connectivity assessments,
• expert validation and ground-truthing, and
• citizen science data, including EU-wide monitoring schemes.

Importantly, the workshop emphasised on the benefits of a dynamic “living map” approach, allowing KPA and Buzz Line mapping to evolve over time in response to improved data, restoration progress and climate-driven ecological change. This adaptive framework is designed to help decision-makers prioritise investments where restoration can deliver the greatest benefits for pollinator recovery and ecosystem resilience.

Supporting EU policy objectives

The findings directly support ongoing work under the EU Pollinators Initiative, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and the Nature Restoration Regulation, particularly by informing:

• the identification of priority restoration areas,
• the design of ecological connectivity across borders, and
• the integration of pollinator needs into agricultural and land-use planning.

The report also proposes roadmaps for 2025-2027, outlining next steps for completing KPA mapping and developing Buzz Lines at multiple spatial scales, from local to transnational.

A collaborative approach for the Science Service for Biodiversity

The workshop illustrates how the Science Service for Biodiversity, currently being developed by BioAgora in collaboration with the KCBD and other parts of the European Commission, can support policy needs through transparent processes, expert coordination and a well-structured knowledge exchange.

By convening expertise, aligning methodologies and fostering collaboration between science, policy and practice, the Science Service for Biodiversity aims to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and support evidence-informed decision-making across the EU.

Access the report

The full workshop report, Conceptual development and implementation of Key Pollinator Areas (KPAs) and Buzz Lines in Europe, is openly available under a Creative Commons licence (CC BY 4.0).

Access the report here.

About BioAgora

BioAgora is a Horizon Europe-funded project that supports the development of a Science Service for Biodiversity, helping to connect biodiversity research with policy and decision-making needs at European and global levels.

About the Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD)

Hosted by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, the Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity connects data, knowledge and expertise to support EU biodiversity policies, including the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.