The LIFE Wild Bees project
The LIFE Wild Bees
projet
The Government has drawn up a National Plan “Pollinators” (2021-2026), animated at national level, among others, by the Office for the Insectes and their Environment(Opie). In coherence, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region committed itself in June 2017 to the implementation of a Regional Plan for pollinators.
In this context, the five Regional Natural Parks (PNR) of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, accompanied by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, have decided to reflect together on an inter-Pnr action plan to limit this decline and allow the maintenance of the pollination service on their territories.
Regional Natural Parks associated to carry out management actions on their territory
Species of wild bees in France
Years of program
General information about the project :
Project coordination: Périgord-Limousin Regional Natural Park
Associated beneficiaries: Regional Natural Park of Marais-Poitevin, Médoc, Millevaches in Limousin and Landes de Gascogne. A research laboratory, INRAE, as well as 2 associative partners, the Office for Insects and their Environment and the Regional Agency for Biodiversity of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
Duration : 5 years
Budget : 6 494 031 €
Main axes of the projects
Improving knowledge
It will be a question of assessing the diversity of wild bees by major types of environments on a set of sites within the 5 Pnr of the Region and to define the floristic processions that are favorable to them.
The re-creation of a dense network of favourable habitats
Ecological engineering works carried out within sites of high heritage value (Natura 2000, nature reserves, etc.) and between these sites (via the green surfaces of transport networks, etc.) are envisaged and will make it possible to restore habitats favourable to wild bees and their connectivity.
The development and structuring of a proposal for plants and seeds of local origin
The management and restoration of ecological corridors favorable to wild pollinators must be within the reach of all the actors of a territory (elected officials, citizens …). The project aims to create a mixture of seeds specific to each biogeographical region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine by relying in particular on the Végétal Local brand.
Transmission and promotion of good practices
The objective is to share the challenges and methods with the actors of the territories (professionals, elected officials, citizens …) through awareness-raising, information and training actions for local actors. All the methods, tools and production carried out in the Life programme will be made available with the aim of spreading good practices outside the territories of Pnr.
Why act in favor of their protection ?
Pollinating insects play a major role in our society.
By providing the ecosystem service of pollination,they ensure the agricultural production essential to our food.
For example: In the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, the pollination service is estimated at more than 450 million euros of food production for human use in 2010.
The decline of wild pollinators in Europe is a major ecological issue. Their current decline is linked to many causes that scientists are currently studying. We can already mention:
- Reduction of feeding sites and depletion of food resources
- Climate change
- Pesticides