IUCN European Pollinator Insights at 2025 World Conservation Congress
Abu Dhabi, UAE, 12:15 , 10 October 2025, Press conference “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species update: Measuring the pulse of European biodiversity”
Speakers
- Martin Warren — Advisor, Butterfly Conservation Europe
- Boris Erg — Director, European Regional Office, IUCN
- Denis Michez — Professor, University of Mons
- Jon Paul Rodríguez — President, PROVITA
The latest findings on the status of Europe’s pollinators with a focus on bees and butterflies.
European Red List Update
- 2,000 species assessed, significantly improving knowledge from previous assessments.
- 10% of species classified as threatened.
- No extinctions recorded; 25 species are listed as critically endangered.
- Cuckoo bee identified as important group for focused effort.
- Land use continues to shape species distribution.
Led by Professor Denis Michez, the assessment builds on earlier work and provides valuable insights into species diversity, pollination roles, and conservation needs.
“Assessing 2,000 species is a major step forward in understanding Europe's bees. It was a collective effort by researchers across the region,” said Michez.
“One of the most striking things about this assessment is how clearly pollinators speak to people,” said Erg. “They intersect with food, beauty, biodiversity, and climate. That’s a powerful message.”
“I mean, we can't ignore the beauty of those species."
It's something that is always possible to communicate, but these numbers show in the range of 5 to the 15 billion, we have this economic output that is really dependent on pollinators, actually inclined toward the latter, the 15 billion, so it's really high.”
“Pollinators offer a direct connection between nature and people,” said Boris Erg, Director of IUCN’s European Regional Office. “They contribute to our food, landscapes, and livelihoods.”
Cuckoo Bees
“We have also in the bee group, Cuckoo bees. These Cuckoo bees, they depend on other bees.” These include several Australian species within the Thyreus genus and admired for their vivid colours of blue, black, and white. These bees lay their eggs in the nests of Blue Banded Bee (Amegilla cingulata), forming an important part of the natural pollination cycle. Found in wooded areas and open habitats, they reflect the balance of native ecosystems. Species include: Neon Cuckoo Bee (Thyreus nitidulus), Domino Cuckoo Bee (Thyreus lugubris) and Chequered Cuckoo Bee (Thyreus caeruleopunctatus.
Friends
In an earlier conference, IUCN discussed Arctic seals who need for sea ice for breeding and raising their pups as well as for moulting, resting, and accessing foraging areas. On the Red List categories, the hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) declined from vulnerable to endangered, while the bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) and harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) have moved from least concern to near threatened.
The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) improved in status from endangered to least concern, thanks to decades of sustained breeding action. Found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, the global population of green turtles has increased approximately 28% since the 1970s. Green turtles are found in tropical marine areas such as coral reefs. They hold great cultural importance for people worldwide.
In Madagascar, 14 endemic forest bird species have been uplisted to near threatened and three to vulnerable, including the Schlegel’s asity (Philepitta schlegeli).
"Governments and communities have a pivotal opportunity to accelerate action that protects biodiversity, stabilises climate, and builds a future where people and nature flourish” said Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General.