Study finds most of Europe’s wild bee species in decline as UN biodiversity summit opens

Research covering a century of data shows pollinator communities reshaped by loss of sensitive species, with scientists warning of deeper disruptions if trends continue

By LineZotpaper

Published19 October 2026

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A study published as the UN Cop17 biodiversity summit begins in Yerevan, Armenia, has found that most of Europe’s wild bee species and about half of its hover fly species have declined over the past century. The research, covering 88% of bee and hover fly species across the continent, reveals that pollinator communities are being reshaped by the gradual loss of sensitive species and the rise of a resilient few.

Records dating back to 1921 show more bee species are declining than increasing in all parts of Europe except the Alpine region. The richness of bee and hover fly species suffered a persistent drop in the Atlantic and Continental regions, though trends in other regions were mixed or even positive.

Carlos Martínez-Núñez, an ecologist at the Spanish National Research Council and lead author of the study, said the findings showed that biodiversity loss could remain hidden behind apparently stable species numbers, “giving us a crucial opportunity to act before further declines occur”. He added: “The fact that some species are increasing today does not mean they will remain winners as climate change and habitat loss intensify.”

The study found that 91% of the species logged over the last century were also recorded at least once between 2001 and 2020. While this suggests as many as 9% of species could have been wiped out in Europe, many of the species not recently spotted occur only rarely in the historical record, and the researchers said they “do not expect widespread extinctions to have occurred yet”. However, the species’ occupancy – the probability of being found at a given site – had mostly fallen.

Nearly 90% of wild flowering plants and more than three-quarters of major food crop types depend in part on animal pollination. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization has warned that the decline of pollinators threatens wildlife and weakens ecosystems’ ability to withstand climate change and environmental stress.

Ainhoa Magrach, an environmental researcher at the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) who was not involved in the study, said the work “confirms what has long been suspected: many pollinator species are losing populations, and the decline is not affecting all of them equally”. She noted that until now most evidence came from a few north-western European countries, but this study shows the pattern extends across the continent, with regional differences.

The Cop17 summit is expected to focus on assessing progress toward this decade’s targets, which include protecting 30% of land and sea, reforming $500bn of environmentally damaging subsidies and restoring 30% of the planet’s degraded ecosystems. Governments have not met a single UN target on nature since the biodiversity convention was created in Rio in 1992.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Pollinators underpin food production and ecosystem health; their decline directly threatens crop yields and biodiversity stability.
The findings arrive as global leaders gather for Cop17, raising pressure to deliver on unmet nature targets.
With climate change and habitat loss intensifying, even currently resilient species may eventually suffer, narrowing the window for effective action.

Background

Wild bees and hover flies are critical pollinators for wild plants and agricultural crops. Wildlife is dying out at an unprecedented rate due to habitat destruction, pesticide use and climate change. Despite repeated international commitments under the UN biodiversity convention, governments have failed to meet any of the global nature targets set since 1992. The current decade’s goals include protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030 and reforming harmful subsidies.

Key Perspectives

Scientists (lead authors): The study shows that overall species counts can mask serious declines in individual species. The authors emphasise that the trend toward fewer sensitive species and more resilient ones could lead to “deeper functional disruptions” if not addressed. The early warning allows for preventive action. Independent researchers: Ainhoa Magrach notes the study confirms long-held suspicions across a continental scale, filling gaps in evidence from southern and eastern Europe. The pattern of decline extends more broadly than previously documented. UN and conservation advocates: The Cop17 summit provides a forum to assess progress on the 30x30 target and other commitments. Past failures to meet biodiversity goals underscore the urgency of translating pledges into enforceable action.

What to Watch

Whether Cop17 produces concrete national commitments on pesticide reduction and habitat restoration.
Monitoring of “resilient” pollinator species to see if they succumb as pressures from climate change and land use intensify.
Policy responses from European governments, especially in the Atlantic and Continental regions where declines are most pronounced.

Sources

‘Crucial opportunity to act’ as study finds most of Europe’s wild bee species in decline · World news | The Guardian

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.

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SupportedStudy finds most of Europe’s wild bee species in decline as UN biodiversity summit opensWorld news | The Guardian: “Most of Europe’s wild bee species and about half of its hover fly species have declined over the last century, a study has found, as a UN biodiversity summit begins in Armenia.”
SupportedResearch covering a century of data shows pollinator communities reshaped by loss of sensitive species, with scientists warning of deeper disruptions if trends continueWorld news | The Guardian: “the data ... suggests pollinator communities have been reshaping by the 'gradual loss of sensitive species and the rise of a resilient few' ... They warned of 'deeper functional disruptions' if existing trends were not addressed.”
Supportedmost of Europe’s wild bee species and about half of its hover fly species have declined over the past centuryWorld news | The Guardian: “Most of Europe’s wild bee species and about half of its hover fly species have declined over the last century”
SupportedRecords dating back to 1921 show more bee species are declining than increasing in all parts of Europe except the Alpine regionWorld news | The Guardian: “Records since 1921 show more bee species are declining than increasing in all parts of Europe except the Alpine region”
SupportedThe richness of bee and hover fly species suffered a persistent drop in the Atlantic and Continental regions, though trends in other regions were mixed or even positiveWorld news | The Guardian: “The richness of bee and hover fly species suffered a persistent drop in the Atlantic and Continental regions, the study found, though trends in other regions were mixed or even positive”
SupportedCarlos Martínez-Núñez said the findings showed that biodiversity loss could remain hidden behind apparently stable species numbers, “giving us a crucial opportunity to act before further declines occur”World news | The Guardian: “giving us a crucial opportunity to act before further declines occur”
Supported“The fact that some species are increasing today does not mean they will remain winners as climate change and habitat loss intensify.”World news | The Guardian: ““The fact that some species are increasing today does not mean they will remain winners as climate change and habitat loss intensify.””
SupportedThe study found that 91% of the species logged over the last century were also recorded at least once between 2001 and 2020World news | The Guardian: “The study found 91% of the species logged over the last century had also been recorded at least once in the modern period, between 2001 and 2020”
Supportedas many as 9% of species could have been wiped out in Europe, many of the species not recently spotted occur only rarely in the historical record, and the researchers said they “do not expect widespread extinctions to have occurred yet”World news | The Guardian: “Although this suggests as many as 9% of species could have been wiped out in Europe, many of the species not spotted recently occur only rarely in the historical record, and the researchers said they “do not expect widespread extinctions to have occurred yet”.”
SupportedNearly 90% of wild flowering plants and more than three-quarters of major food crop types depend in part on animal pollinationWorld news | The Guardian: “Nearly 90% of wild flowering plants, as well as more than three-quarters of major food crop types, depend in part on animal pollination”
SupportedThe Cop17 summit is expected to focus on assessing progress toward this decade’s targets, which include protecting 30% of land and sea, reforming $500bn of environmentally damaging subsidies and restoring 30% of the planet’s degraded ecosystemsWorld news | The Guardian: “The Cop17 summit is expected to focus on assessing progress toward this decade’s targets, which include protecting 30% of land and sea, reforming $500bn (£375bn) of environmentally damaging subsidies and restoring 30% of the planet’s degraded ecosystems”
SupportedGovernments have not met a single UN target on nature since the biodiversity convention was created in Rio in 1992World news | The Guardian: “governments have not met a single UN target on nature since the biodiversity convention was created in Rio in 1992”