INTERREG-SUDOE Beeconnected-sudoe Project: Restoration of Green Infrastructure for Pollinators in Fragmented Landscapes

The BeeConnected SUDOE project addresses some common challenges in the SUDOE region related to habitat fragmentation and lack of connectivity, primarily due to agricultural intensification and urban sprawl. These factors threaten European biodiversity, and especially wild pollinators. In line with the recent European Union Pollinator Initiative: A New Deal for Pollinators, BeeConnected SUDOE focuses on the creation and restoration of green infrastructure for pollinators (“Buzz Lines”), which mitigate territorial fragmentation and strengthen connectivity between pollinator populations.

BeeConnected SUDOE designs actions and tests ecological restoration strategies in four pilot areas to address the lack of connectivity for wild pollinators in fragmented agricultural and peri-urban landscapes, in line with the principles of the European Green Deal. The project activities focus on: i) restoring degraded areas to improve their role in territorial connectivity; ii) increasing food, water, and nesting resources for pollinators; and iii) designing awareness and communication campaigns on the importance of pollinator conservation and green infrastructure. The project's main innovation lies in its integrated approach, which combines scientific research, community engagement, and the implementation of nature-based solutions. Transnational cooperation is key to the project's success, as it addresses challenges that transcend national borders, such as pollinator decline and the promotion of nature-based solutions.

BeeConnected SUDOE facilitates collaboration between academic entities and public authorities, implementing strategies that contribute to territorial rebalancing, improve ecological connectivity between urban and rural areas, and promote public awareness of the importance of biodiversity conservation.