Preserving Europe’s Insect Populations and Saving Ecosystems

Bee populations across Europe are in steep decline, threatening ecosystems and agriculture alike. In fact, 80% of the world’s plants depend on insect pollinators like bees to reproduce.  To address this growing crisis, Beeazy, a charitable initiative based in Poland, sought the expertise of public affairs professionals through Pro Publico’s clearinghouse, aiming to protect grasslands and insect populations.

Empowering Advocates for Insect Conservation

Beeazy’s mission is to restore insect populations by raising awareness among landowners and policymakers about the importance of grasslands. They are particularly focused on limiting over-mowing through their Little Forest Initiative, which calls for more sustainable land management practices. One of their key objectives is to secure binding EU regulations that better protect these critical ecosystems.

To navigate the complex EU policy landscape, Beeazy requested pro bono assistance, and we matched them with experts from FIPRA International whose Green Transition Practice specialises in advising organisations on regulatory processes, making them the ideal partner for Beeazy’s advocacy efforts.

Navigating EU Policy for Pollinator Protection

FIPRA’s Ana Londoño Botero and Eliot Goarant provided in-depth training on EU advocacy processes, offering valuable insights into how Beeazy could engage with key policymakers. They also helped Beeazy track two significant policy milestones related to pollinator protection:

1. The revised EU Pollinator Initiative, which seeks to reverse the decline of wild pollinators through an integrated approach;
2. The European Citizen’s ‘Save the Bees’ Initiative, which garnered over one million signatures in support of better bee conservation.

Thanks to FIPRA’s guidance, Beeazy was better equipped to understand and engage with EU policy structures. As Beeazy’s founder, Władysław Kastory, noted, “The assistance provided through Pro Bono Europe was incredibly helpful. FIPRA’s expertise allowed us to build a strategy and transfer that knowledge to our team, who were previously unfamiliar with EU lobbying processes.”

Crafting a Persuasive Advocacy Narrative

With FIPRA’s support, Beeazy developed a compelling advocacy narrative, which was used in an open letter to Members of the European Parliament. This narrative was further reinforced in media articles designed to raise public awareness about the urgent need to protect pollinators and grasslands.

FIPRA’s collaboration also prompted Beeazy to rethink its broader advocacy strategy, enabling the organisation to better prepare for future policy activities.

Reflecting on the experience, Eliot Goarant of FIPRA said, “We highly recommend that public affairs professionals make time for pro bono work. Not only is it deeply rewarding to support purpose-driven organisations like Beeazy, but you also gain new perspectives and knowledge in the process.”

Are you working on environmental conservation projects in Europe and in need of strategic support? Or are you a law firm or consultancy looking to offer your expertise on a pro bono basis? Get in touch with Pro Publico, and we can match you with the perfect partner to help make a positive impact on our planet.

Thanks to @Ana Londoño Botero @Eliot Goarant @FIPRA @Władysław Kastory @Beeazy @Francesco Zatelli @Pro Publico