A new workshop report published through the Science Service for Biodiversity presents concrete pathways for identifying, mapping and restoring Key Pollinator Areas (KPAs) and Buzz Lines - landscape connectivity corridors essential 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 via the Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD), and supports the implementation of the EU New Deal for Pollinators and the Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR).
From concepts to implementation
Pollinators are vital for ecosystem functioning, food security and biodiversity, yet continue to decline across Europe. The workshop brought together scientific experts, European institutions and EU-funded projects to develop a shared conceptual framework for KPAs - areas of high importance for pollinator populations - and Buzz Lines, which connect these areas across fragmented landscapes.
Participants highlighted the need for harmonised definitions, transparent criteria and scalable methodologies to support Member States in developing National Restoration Plans under the NRR, while complementing existing protected area networks such as Natura 2000.
The report proposes a tiered, evidence-based approach combining species distribution models, habitat and connectivity assessments, expert validation, and citizen science data. A key recommendation is a dynamic “living map” approach, allowing KPA and Buzz Line mapping to evolve over time as data improves and restoration progresses.
Supporting EU biodiversity and restoration goals
The findings directly support the EU Pollinators Initiative, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and the Nature Restoration Regulation, informing priority restoration areas, ecological connectivity across borders, and the integration of pollinator needs into land-use planning. The report also outlines roadmaps for 2025-2027, identifying next steps for implementation at local, national and transnational scales.
The workshop illustrates how the Science Service for Biodiversity, developed by BioAgora in collaboration with the European Commission and the KCBD, can support policy needs through expert coordination, transparent processes and structured knowledge exchange, strengthening the science-policy interface for biodiversity across Europe.
Read the report here.