PolliConnect: €7 Million to Halt the Decline of Pollinators

Ballyhoura Development is participating in the European project PolliConnect, an innovative transnational initiative aimed at restoring pollinator biodiversity through the application of sustainable and technological management practices. This initiative is co-funded by the Interreg North-West Europe program and combines science, technology, and community action to combat the decline of pollinators.

Europe’s Response to Pollinator Decline

North-West Europe is facing an alarming decline in wild pollinator biodiversity, which threatens plant reproduction—including key agricultural crops—and overall biodiversity. This has a direct impact on food security, ecosystem stability, and climate resilience.

The PolliConnect project seeks to reverse this trend by improving the connectivity of natural habitats and adopting innovative management techniques. It offers practical, collaborative solutions to reconnect fragmented habitats, promoting biodiversity recovery through local actions with transnational impact. The aim is to optimize land use and management to support pollinator populations.

Main Objectives of the PolliConnect Project

• Increase pollinator biodiversity indicators by 20% in pilot areas.
• Create and test 7 Living Labs across 5 North-West European countries.
• Develop technologies, such as AI-powered automated wild bee cameras.
• Inform and guide community gardener managers, farmers, and citizens in conservation and maintenance practices.
• Support public policy with replicable data and best practices.

Ballyhoura Development's Contribution to the Project

Ballyhoura Development Key Actions:

• Set up of demonstration sites.
• Creation of communication toolkit.
• Organisation of international events for sharing results.
• Training and awareness-raising for stakeholders across Europe.

Interregional Cooperation and PolliConnect Partners

The project is coordinated by the Flemish Land Agency (VLM) in Belgium and involves 14 partners from 6 countries:

• Belgium: Flemish Land Agency (VLM), Brussels Environment, Ghent University, Provincie West-Vlaanderen
• Ireland: Ballyhoura Development CLG
• Germany: Ministry for Environment, Climate and Science– Freie Hansestadt Bremen; INOVA DE 
• France: Department of Pas-de-Calais; PLANETE Vegetables, Flowers and Plants; EFREI université de Paris 
• Netherlands: Naturalis Biodiversity Center; Province of Fryslân; Municipality of Middelburg 

Expected Impacts in the Coming Years

Over the 54-month duration, PolliConnect will implement technological and educational solutions to restore habitats and increase pollinator populations. These actions are expected to contribute to a more sustainable and connected future, with direct impact on communities, schools, farmers, and local governments.

The initiative began in 2025 and is set to conclude by mid-2029. It has a total budget of €7.1 million, of which €4.1 million is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg North-West Europe program.

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