Pollinators and Insects

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Pocket Parks and Pollinator Gardens (USA) [2025]

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Country: United States of America, Florida

Site: City of Delray Beach, Florida

Target: Students and Schools, Tourists and Visitors, Staff, Local communities and residents, Families and Kids

Short Description

The Pocket Parks and Pollinator Gardens initiative has expanded green spaces in Delray Beach, benefiting both wildlife and the community.Through a partnership with the National Wildlife Refuge and local residents, the City has created 10 pollinator gardens, supporting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. These gardens promote biodiversity while serving as public learning spaces.

The City hosts Pollinator BioBlitz and planting events, encouraging residents to document species on iNaturalist and contribute to the wildlife atlas. Community engagement, through events, social media, and volunteer opportunities, has led to increased awareness and private pollinator gardens.

A key lesson learned is the importance of ongoing public communication about seasonal garden maintenance. To address concerns, the City is adding signage explaining plant life cycles. With a 95% survival rate for installed plants, this initiative is fostering long-term environmental stewardship.

Goals

  • Increase pollinator-friendly habitats to support biodiversity in Delray Beach

  • Create gardens that provide food and shelter for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds

  • Encourage residents to participate in Pollinator BioBlitz events and plantings

  • Maintain high plant survival rates and improve public understanding of garden life cycles

Reproducibility

  • Partnerships with local organizations and residents ensure project success

  • Pollinator gardens require minimal investment but provide lasting ecological benefits

  • Platforms like iNaturalist facilitate species documentation and community involvement

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Pollinator Friendly Schools Network (Portugal) [2025]

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Country: Portugal

Site: Municipality of Leiria, Pedrogao Centro beach

Target: Students and Schools, Teachers and Educators, Local communities and residents

Short Description

This project, in partnership with Quercus, engaged schools in tackling pollinator decline through hands-on solutions. Students learned about the importance of pollinators, insect hotels, and biodiverse grasslands. As a result, 45 myrtles, 45 rosemary plants, and various honey-producing species were planted in six schools, enhancing local biodiversity. The project aligned with SDG 2 by promoting sustainable agricultural practices that support ecological resilience and regeneration. Beyond education, the initiative contributed to ecological restoration by creating pollinator-friendly habitats. Schools became active agents of change, fostering awareness and implementing real-world solutions for environmental conservation.

Goals

  • Engage schools in planting pollinator-friendly species and creating insect hotels

  • Improve school environments with native plants that support pollinators

  • Align with SDG 2 by promoting ecological resilience and regeneration

  • Empower students and teachers to take real-world action in conservation efforts

Reproducibility

  • Can be replicated in schools worldwide

  • Engaging students in planting and building insect hotels ensures active learning

  • Selecting region-specific pollinator-friendly species enhances local biodiversity

  • Collaboration with environmental organizations like Quercus ensures expertise and scalability

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Bio Platges Met (Spain) [2025]

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Country: Spain

Site: Municipality of Gavá

Target: Students and Schools, Families and Kids, Tourists and Visitors, Local communities and residents

Short Description

Gavá City Council, in collaboration with the Institute of Marine Sciences and CSIC, launched a citizen science project to monitor pollinators at the beach’s natural area. Informative posters invite visitors to photograph and report local flora and fauna, helping document species diversity and conservation status. This initiative raises public awareness of pollinators’ vital role in ecosystems while generating valuable scientific data. Signage effectively reaches a broad audience, but digital platforms further enhance participation. The project highlights the power of community involvement in biodiversity conservation and the importance of pollinators in maintaining environmental balance.

Goals

  • Educate the public on the vital role of pollinators in ecosystems through signage and digital platforms

  • Encourage visitors to photograph and report local flora and fauna to document species diversity

  • Collect valuable information on species conservation status to support research efforts

  • Enhance engagement and broaden reach through online participation tools.

Reproducibility

  • Monitor pollinators through simple, accessible reporting methods

  • Combine physical signage with digital platforms

  • Foster active public participation in monitoring local flora and fauna for data collection

  • Replicate efforts to track and report species diversity