Europe’s pollinators—essential for food production and biodiversity—are in rapid decline. A new European Red List assessment has revealed a sharp increase in the number of endangered species among wild bees, butterflies, and hoverflies. Nearly 100 additional bee species are now considered at risk, bringing the total number of threatened wild bees to 172 out of 1,928 species—around 9%.

Butterflies are also in trouble. The number of threatened butterfly species in Europe has risen from 37 to 65 out of 442 species, with more than 40% of endemic species now classified as threatened or near-threatened. Hoverflies, another vital group of pollinators, have seen 37% of their species placed in danger of extinction.

The causes behind this alarming trend are complex but interconnected. Habitat loss due to intensive agriculture, urban development, and forestry has drastically reduced feeding and nesting grounds. Pesticide use, nitrogen pollution, and the escalating impacts of climate change—such as extreme heat and drought—are compounding the stress. In northern and Mediterranean regions, shifting temperatures are already altering pollinator lifecycles and migration patterns.

Although no European wild bee species have yet been declared extinct, populations of bumblebees and cellophane bees have plummeted. Their decline threatens both natural ecosystems and human food security, as these insects play a crucial role in pollinating fruits, vegetables, and flowering plants.

European Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall called the findings “a disaster,” warning that “without pollinators, there is no sustainable agriculture or healthy ecosystems.” She urged immediate collective action to protect the species that underpin Europe’s food systems and biodiversity.

Conservation experts are calling for a shift toward more sustainable land use: restoring wildflower habitats, reducing pesticide dependency, and implementing pollinator corridors across farmland. Protecting these small but mighty creatures is not just an environmental necessity—it’s a safeguard for Europe’s future.