In 2023, the European Commission mandated the development of three targeted action plans to tackle pollinator decline. These plans were developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in collaboration with the IUCN Species Survival Commission, the Invertebrate Conservation Committee, the Hoverfly Specialist Group, and Buglife.

These plans were developed through extensive consultations with experts, stakeholders, and Member State authorities, following the IUCN’s Guidelines for Species Conservation Planning. 

Each plan provides:

• Scientific assessments of species’ status, ecology, and key threats.
• An overview of current conservation measures and their effectiveness.
• A list of priority actions needed to improve species conservation across their range in the EU.

The three Species Action Plans focus on:​

1. Canarian Islands Pollinators: This plan targets four insect species—two butterflies, one bee, and one hoverfly—that inhabit the Laurel Forest, an ancient ecosystem now threatened by human activity, alien species, and climate change.​
2. Teasel-Plant Bees: Addressing wild bees at risk due to habitat loss and the decline of teasel plants, their essential resource, primarily caused by agricultural intensification and the reduction of xerothermic grasslands.​
3. Veteran Trees Hoverflies: Focusing on six hoverfly species reliant on veteran trees and decaying wood, emphasizing the need for forestry practices that preserve these critical habitats.​

Successful implementation requires coordinated efforts across sectors, mobilizing policymakers, researchers, land managers, and civil society to take decisive action.