The Faculty of Science UHK Joins International Pollinator Conservation Projects
In the coming years, the Faculty of Science University of Hradec Králové will host specialized training sessions focused on bees and other pollinators. Under the guidance of leading experts, both enthusiasts and specialists from various European countries will have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in this critical field.
Bees—particularly wild solitary species rather than honeybees—along with other pollinators such as butterflies, rank among the most extensively studied insect groups. This is due to their vital role in ecosystems and the alarming decline in their populations over recent decades. Pollinator conservation has become a priority at multiple levels, with the European Union integrating it into various directives and agricultural policies, including mandatory land allocation for nectar- and pollen-producing plants.
Despite these efforts, many aspects of pollinator taxonomy, ecology, and distribution remain poorly understood. To address these gaps, numerous international projects supported by the EU and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have been launched. Their goals include advancing scientific knowledge, fostering collaboration among specialists, and directly applying research findings to conservation efforts.
The Department of Biology Faculty of Science UHK, is actively engaged in these initiatives. Associate Professor Petr Bogusch, a globally recognized expert on pollinators, specializes in conservation biology for bees and related species. He collaborated with Professor Denis Michez from the University of Mons, Belgium, on the first European Red List of Bees (2014) and is now involved in two additional high-profile projects:
- ORBIT: A comprehensive online database of all European bee species, set to launch in 2025. Dr. Bogusch is the author of numerous species descriptions and has contributed extensive research data to the project.
- PULSE: A new European Red List of Bees, which will provide updated insights into endangered species and be published under the auspices of the IUCN.
Findings from both projects will be featured in leading scientific journals, including Insect Conservation and Diversity.
From 2025, the Department of Biology will also be involved in two major international education initiatives:
- EPIC-Bee: A project aimed at training bee specialists across Europe. The primary hubs will be in Belgium and the Czech Republic, where assoc. prof. Bogusch and biology student Zuzana Bartíková will provide training for participants from Central and Southeastern Europe.
- PollHab: Led by the University of Padua (Italy), this project will investigate the causes of pollinator decline and explore potential solutions. It will involve field research, scientific publications, and policy reports for the EU.
According to Professor Michez, these projects mark the beginning of a long-term international collaboration in pollinator conservation. Dr. Bogusch is actively engaged in European conservation efforts while also conducting bee research in the Mediterranean region, the Canary Islands, and Morocco.
By participating in these projects, the Faculty of Science University of Hradec Králové is establishing itself as a key scientific center in pollinator ecology and conservation. Despite being a relatively small institution, the quality of its research places it among Europe’s scientific elite.
Photography credit: Ivan Kňaze
