P1.1 – Pollination indicators and criteria for monitoring of rural green infrastructure

With a view of extending rural GI and monitoring throughout the region, some measures for benchmarking and monitoring must be established; these measures will be oriented towards feasibility and replicability.

P1.2 – Territorial analysis of the deployment and impact of rural green infrastructure

The potential for expansion of the rural GI is evaluated, as well as its impact.

P1.3 – Pollinator model for management of pollinators and their services in oilseed crops

The responses of bees to anthropic factors will be analyzed in the study regions using data on environmental parameters, farm management (including a wide variety of potential practices such as crop management/choice/rotation, use of plant protection products, etc.), information on bee hives and their health, etc. The model developed will be able to evaluate and predict the responses of pollinators to changes in the landscape. It will serve as a predictive management tool for practitioners and authorities in order to define the best strategies to balance provision of the pollination service.

P2.1 – Regional flower mixture guide

Pollinators depend on floral resources. The distribution of resources and abundance of flowers is of decisive importance for wild and cultivated bees, especially including wildflowers. POLL-OLE-GI will produce a management guide for flower resources integrated into intensive agriculture. This will include a recommended mix of commercially-available seed.

P2.2 – Soil mixture design

Agriculture is a significant source of environmental pollutants including nutrients and different agrochemicals. POLL-OLE-GI will design and test different soil amendments which can be useful to protect pollinators and the environment.

P2.3 – Technical summary

POLL-OLE-GI uses different technical approaches, including testing and development of techniques in the laboratory, glasshouse, field, and empirical modeling exercises based on data gathered in the project. This technical summary will synthesize the empirical knowledge evaluating different management options, landscape configurations, and types of green infrastructure for their effect on the pollination service and the production of crops and bee products.

P2.4 – Dissemination network

POLL-OLE-GI will set up a dissemination network among famers and beekeepers to spread project results.

P2.5 – Socioeconomic study

The measures proposed within the project will be evaluated for their socioeconomic impact.

P3.1 – Policy guide

POLL-OLE-GI will aid decision-makers to understand rural green infrastructure and its future within agricultural policy on the national and European scales.

P3.2 – Technical guide

POLL-OLE-GI will aid practitioners and stakeholders to implement rural green infrastructure and pollinator protection.

P3.3 – Technical workshops

POLL-OLE-GI will organize targeted technical workshops with stakeholders to transfer results.

P3.4 – Project film

A film will improve communication of the problems addressed by POLL-OLE-GI and the approach used.

P3.5 – Citizen science tools and projects

Citizen involvement is important for creating awareness about the decline of pollinators and changes which must be introduced to recover ecosystem services.