History
On this page, first of all information is provided about how Promote Pollinators, the Coalition of the Willing on Pollinators, was established. Second, a historical overview is given, including memorable moments in its existence, such as milestones, important meetings and efforts made by members.
The founding of Promote Pollinators
By the end of 2016, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) firstly presented its Assessment Report on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production. This assessment covers changes in animal pollination as a regulating ecosystem service that underpins food production and its contribution to gene flows and restoration of ecosystems. It addresses the role of native and exotic pollinators, the status of and trends in pollinators and pollination networks and services, drivers of change, impacts on human well-being, food production of pollination declines and deficits and the effectiveness of responses to pollination declines and deficits. The assessment informs enhanced policy responses to declines and deficits in pollination by identifying policy-relevant findings for decision-making in government, the private sector and civil society, as well as by helping to demonstrate how an essential ecosystem service contributes to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Driven by the IPBES Assessment, during the 13th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP13) in Cancun, Mexico, 11 countries expressed their concern about the decline of pollinating species and their habitats worldwide, and their willingness to act. According to these countries, working together and sharing knowledge will motivate countries to take measures and putting them into effect. With this as a starting point, they united to establish such an alliance. On Sunday the 4th of December they announced their intention to collaborate in a ‘Coalition of the Willing’ on pollination and the protection of pollinators.
During the Side Event on Pollination and Food Production at COP13, which was held on Tuesday the 6th of December 2016, besides the presentation of the Assessment’s key findings, the delivery of several messages by the Co-Chairs of the Assessment and presentations from key Governments about national strategies and action plans, time was reserved to discuss the announcement of the new Coalition of the Willing. This led to the creation of a declaration document including a list of commitments, serving as a tool for action perspective. During a signing ceremony later that week, fourteen countries signed the Declaration and became the first members of Promote Pollinators, the Coalition of the Willing on Pollinators. The first countries to join the Coalition were Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Peru, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Uruguay.
