Pollination services are among the most crucial of the ecosystem goods and services provided by our natural environment. 84% of European crop plants rely, at least in part on pollination via insects, such as wild bees, honeybees and hoverflies (Williams 1994), in particular fruits, vegetables and fodder crops.

A number of regional initiatives, programmes and projects such as the European Pollinator Initiative (www.europeanpollinatorinitiative.org) and STEP project (Status and Trends of European Pollinators; www.step-project.net) are working toward a common goal of promoting the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of pollinator diversity in agriculture and related ecosystems.