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Natural resources

USGS Unveils Forward-Looking Pollinator Science Strategy for 2025-2035

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The US Geological Survey (USGS) has released a comprehensive report outlining its science vision to support conservation efforts for animal pollinators. The document, titled 'U.S. Geological Survey Pollinator Science Strategy, 2025-35--A Review and Look Forward,' highlights the organization's commitment to researching healthy pollinator populations and addressing information gaps for natural resource managers. As the science arm of the Department of the Interior (DOI), the USGS plays a primary role in providing scientific information to managers and policymakers, working with federal, state, tribal, nongovernmental organizations, and industry partners to address pollinator science across the country.

Key Takeaways:

  • The USGS will utilize its network of over 300 research centers nationwide to address pollinator science across a range of geographic areas, focusing on five thematic areas: assessing species ecology, distributions, and natural history requirements; tracking species status and trends; understanding species threats and stressors; informing restoration and management actions; and developing new methods for improving research and monitoring.
  • The USGS strives to provide scientific leadership by delivering and curating high-quality science and promoting data integrity and accessibility to the public, making information products and data widely available to ensure scientific transparency.
  • The USGS aims to fill knowledge gaps for many native species, helping to keep common pollinators common and improving the vitality of declining species, which includes pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, birds, and bats.
  • The USGS's pollinator research complements the federal 'Pollinator Research Action Plan' and collaborates with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), focusing on supporting agricultural systems, and assists partners in developing pollinator monitoring programs and providing technical assistance in analyzing complex monitoring datasets.
  • The report highlights the importance of pollinators, stating that nearly 90 percent of all flowering plants depend on animal pollination, with an estimated global value of $215 billion and $34 billion in the United States.

Statistics:

  • The USGS plans to use its network of over 300 research centers nationwide to address pollinator science.
  • The value of pollination is estimated at $215 billion globally and $34 billion in the United States.
  • Nearly 90 percent of all flowering plants depend on animal pollination.

Sources:

  • United States Geological Survey. (2025, June 26). U.S. Geological Survey Pollinator Science Strategy, 2025-35--A Review and Look Forward. Circular 1556. https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1556/circ1556.pdf.

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