Projects proposed but not funded at the 1999 Technical Conference for implementation of IABIN:

Information on Wild Pollinators

Large declines in pollinators have been reported in Europe, Russia, Canada, and Latin America. Pollinators, which include bees, butterflies, birds, bats, and other animals, provide a major ecological service without cost. Two-thirds of the world's flowering plants and more than three-fourths of the worlds crop plants are pollinated by insects, birds, or bats. Major threats to pollinators include habitat loss and alteration, alien species, and pesticides. These threats together can cause considerable disruption of an essential ecological service that benefits natural ecosystems, rare species, and agriculture. Data on pollinator decline is scanty and has not been collected in a systematic fashion among countries. Analysis of this type of data is required to discern hemispheric trends.

Funds are requested to conduct an initial assessment of information on the extent and severity of the decline of pollinators (both native and exotic/introduced) in the American Continent, both in natural ecosystems (including forests, savannas, grasslands) and man-built ecosystems (including agriculture, forest plantations and pastures). The main product would be a preliminary assessment for the continent based on existing qualitative and quantitative data. The work will be conducted in three phases:

1. Collect evidence/data through questionnaires sent to experts throughout the Americas and review of the literature.
2. Hold a technical workshop to assess the existing information, provide an overall critical assessment and propose actions to be taken.
3. Prepare database(s) with information on
   1. evidences of pollinator decline;
   2. bibliographies and references; and
   3. experts;
      to be disseminated through the Internet in an IABIN-linked web page.