Affiliation:
1. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife 353 Water St Augusta 04330 ME USA
2. New York Natural Heritage Program State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry 625 Broadway, 5th Floor Albany 12233 NY USA
3. Vermont Center for Ecostudies Vermont Atlas of Life PO Box 420 Norwich 05055 VT USA
4. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division 79 Elm St Hartford 06106 CT USA
5. Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station 123 Huntington St New Haven 06511 CT USA
6. NatureServe 2550 S Clark St #930 Arlington 22202 VA USA
Abstract
AbstractSevere declines in the abundance of insects, including economically and ecologically important pollinators, are alarming conservationists and the public. Yet despite these increasingly well‐documented declines, relatively few pollinating insects other than butterflies, moths, and bumble bees have appeared as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in State Wildlife Action Plans, decadal‐scale blueprints for wildlife conservation efforts across the United States that require updating in 2025. Species absent from SGCN lists are ineligible for congressionally appropriated State Wildlife Grants that direct millions of dollars annually for their conservation. In the past, knowledge about the distribution and abundance of many insect pollinators was too poor to identify those meeting state guidelines for inclusion as SGCN. Using case studies from 4 northeastern states, we demonstrate that sufficient conservation status data now exist for many pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, and flower flies, to identify at‐risk species meriting inclusion on SGCN lists in many states. Doing so will increase funding for surveys, habitat protection and enhancement, and other conservation activities that will benefit this vitally important guild.
Funder
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Sarah K. DeCoizart Article TENTH Perpetual Charitable Trust