Overview
- The nationwide count invites people to watch a green spot for 30 minutes and submit sightings through the official form or app, including if they see none.
- Researchers say more than half of the Netherlands’ roughly 360 wild bee species are at risk, which endangers pollination for many fruits and vegetables.
- Experts point to fewer flowering plants in simplified landscapes and pesticide use on garden and farm plants as the main drivers of the decline.
- Lelystad is changing roadside management to boost wildflowers, and projects like Bijenlint encourage gardens with staggered blooms, while people are urged to plant natives, skip extra mowing, and add bee hotels.
- Organizers stress the count tracks broad trends rather than exact totals because volunteer data can have gaps, double counts, and species mix-ups.