ZAGREB, 1 Oct (Hina) - Institutions from nine European countries, including Zagreb's Zoo and University, will take part in the Zoo LIFE Pollinators 2025-2029 project, aimed at reversing the decline of wild pollinator populations, Zagreb Zoo said.

The initiative, funded through the EU's LIFE programme, involves 16 institutions and was launched last week at the University of Turin. It is led by Biopark Zoom (Immersive Parks) in Turin, whose director Umberto Maccario said the project will combine research, education, and fieldwork to tackle biodiversity loss.

Partners include zoos in Copenhagen, Debrecen, Brașov, Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura, Nordens Ark, and Slottsskogen.

Zagreb Zoo will lead educational and scientific outreach for the public, raising awareness about the importance of pollinators and their protection.

The project responds to alarming findings by the European Environment Agency, which warns that 9% of wild bees face extinction, 40% of hoverflies are in critical decline, and 480 butterfly species are threatened, largely due to habitat loss, climate change, pesticides, and invasive species.

Zoos participating in the project will dedicate 926 hectares of their land to planting pollinator-friendly trees, shrubs, and plants, a move seen as crucial since many zoos are located in biodiversity-challenged urban and suburban areas. With about 5.5 million visitors annually, they are also considered key venues for public engagement.

The project will establish specialised pollinator breeding centres, develop common monitoring methods, and launch citizen science programmes for schools and local communities. Scientific data and tools will be shared internationally on an open-access platform.

Biologists stress that wild pollinators, ranging from 2,000 species of bees to 10,000 species of moths, are the "silent heroes" of ecosystems, vital not only for wild flora but also for European agriculture, where 84% of crops depend on pollination.