All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2026-2030

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All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2026-2030

Introducing the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2026-2030

We are excited to announce the launch of the third phase of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan for 2026-2030, which took place on 9th July 2026 at the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin. The Plan was launched by Ministers Andrew Muir (Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland) and Christopher O’Sullivan TD (Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Republic of Ireland).

Read and download the full All-Ireland Pollinator Plan (2026-2030) here.

Pictured: John Conlon, Chairman, OPW; Dr Claire Cooper, Assistant Principal, National Parks and Wildlife Service and National Biodiversity Data Centre Board Member; Dr Úna FitzPatrick, Co-founder of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and Chief Scientific Officer of the National Biodiversity Data Centre; Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD; Sara McGuckian, Head of Natural Science, Northern Ireland Environment Agency; Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland, Andrew Muir; Virginia Teehan, CEO, The Heritage Council; Michelle Corrigan, Principal Officer, Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine; and Richard Tilson, Chief Operating Officer, National Biodiversity Data Centre. Photo Dermot Byrne.

What is the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan?

The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is a framework bringing together different sectors across the island of Ireland to create a landscape where pollinators can survive and thrive. Its implementation is coordinated by the National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC).

The AIPP was established in 2015, in response to data showing pollinator declines, by Dr Úna FitzPatrick (NBDC) and Prof Jane Stout (Trinity College Dublin). Since then, it has gained widespread support from across different sectors, with thousands of actions taken by hundreds of organisations and individuals who have transformed the land they manage.

Whilst pollinators are still in decline, data from the Citizen Science Bumblebee Monitoring Scheme show that declines appear to have stabilised over the past five years, and local populations of pollinators are increasing where actions are being taken to help them. However - the ambition of the AIPP is not to just stop these declines, but to reverse these trends. These data are an encouraging sign that what we’re doing is working – we just need to do more."

Now in its third phase, the AIPP aims to create a landscape with pockets of nature every 200 metres. This ambitious goal builds on the successes of the previous phases and aims to increase pollinator numbers, creating a thriving landscape for pollinators and people.

We are grateful to the following funders for supporting the AIPP 2026-2030:

Successes of previous AIPP phases

The first phase of the AIPP (2015-2020) achieved widespread support from over 100 governmental and non-governmental organisations. As a result of island-wide collaboration, all 81 actions were achieved. The second phase of the AIPP (2021-2025) was even more ambitious, building on the success of the first phase with 186 actions across 6 objectives and saw support expand across sectors.

To celebrate the successes of the most recent phase, we released a booklet: One Hundred Tales of Hope: Stories of Pollinator Conservation from the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2021-2025.

Download and read 100 Tales of Hope

Launching the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2026-2030

The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2026-2030 was launched on 9th July 2026 at the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, by Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland, Andrew Muir, and Ireland’s Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD.

"By working together, across all landscapes, it is possible to restore pollinator populations and create an island that is richer in biodiversity, more resilient to climate change, and better for people and nature alike.

Adopting a more ambitious All-Ireland Pollinator Plan for 2026-2030 will help us play our part in meeting international biodiversity targets and is key to the success of our Environmental Improvement Plan and forthcoming Nature Recovery Strategy."

- Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland, Andrew Muir. Photo Dermot Byrne

"Bees, hoverflies and other pollinating insects play a vital role in our food systems and in the health of the wider natural environment.

That’s why the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is such an important initiative, because it makes it easy for everyone to get involved and take action to reverse their decline – no matter where they live, how young or old they are, or how much they know about pollinators."

- Ireland’s Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD. Photo Dermot Byrne

Watch: In this video, All-Ireland Pollinator Plan co-founder Dr Úna Fitzpatrick introduces the new AIPP and its 10 new work packages

AIPP 2026-2030 vision: pockets of nature every 200 metres

A solitary bee won’t fly more than about 200 metres to find food. Imagine an island where there are pockets of nature every 200 metres in our landscape, providing food, shelter, and safety for pollinators.

That is our vision: an island that supports biodiversity, is climate resilient, and brings us the joy and health benefits of connecting with nature.

Based on public and stakeholder consultations during 2025, the next phase of the AIPP (2026-2030) builds on the successes and lessons of previous phases and contains:

The third phase will be supported by a dedicated team of eight staff within the NBDC. Some of the new work packages also overlap with the NBDC’s wider core activities.

The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan team from the National Biodiversity Data Centre from left to right: Jon Ryder, Dr Emma King, Joshua Clarke, Kate Chandler, Dr Úna FitzPatrick, Dr Sarah Larragy, Sarah Kelly, Pat Fitzmaurice and Patrick Doran. Photo Dermot Byrne

A Steering Group with representation across both NI and ROI will provide oversight to the rollout of the 2026-2030 phase, with representation from each work package. We are also very grateful to our 130 partners who have pledged their support across our 10 work packages. Under the new Plan structure, additional partners can join at any time over the course of the Plan.

Introducing the AIPP 2026-2030 work packages

Find out more about Protecting Farmland Pollinators here

Find out more about Local Authorities and Public Bodies here

Find out more about Transport Authorities and Utility Companies here

Find out more about Buzzing Communities here

Find out more about Encouraging Businesses to Protect Pollinators here

Find out more about Pollinators on the Edge here

Find out more about Mapping Pollinator Action across All Sectors here

Find out more about Monitoring the Status of Pollinators here

Find out more about Research here

Find out more Raising Awareness of Pollinators and Inspiring Collective Action here

How to get involved

From the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan team, we'd like to say a huge thank you for your support of the AIPP.

The success of the last two phases is thanks to the support of people like you taking action to help pollinators in your garden, on your farm, in your local authority, community, business, school, or whatever land you have responsibility for and through the networks of people you know.

What we are doing is working, but we need to do a lot more to help reverse the decline of pollinators across the island of Ireland.

Visit our website, pollinators.ie for information about pollinators and citizen science monitoring schemes, as well as access to free, sector-specific resources to help you take action for pollinators.

Join us on our journey towards a landscape with pockets of nature every 200 metres, and help create an island where pollinators can survive and thrive.

Visit pollinators.ie