The Pollinator Project 20-21 | Rotary Clubs of Cyprus

Rotary Cyprus is celebrating the 116th Rotary International Birthday and the addition of environment as the seventh area of focus by launching The Pollinator Project.

The Pollinator Project of ROTARY Cyprus **(Climate Change and Biodiversity in Cyprus)** has been initialized by the Rotary Club Nicosia Aspelia in close cooperation with the ROTARACT Clubs Nicosia Aspelia and University of Nicosia.

The project is run by an Environmental Task Force of ROTARY Cyprus involving the ROTARY Clubs: Famagusta, Kyrenia Cosmopolitan, Limassol, Nicosia, Nicosia Aspelia, Nicosia Ledra, Nicosia Lefkothea, Paphos Aphrodite, Salamis, Sarayionou, Kyrenia.

and the ROTARACT Clubs: Nicosia, Nicosia Aspelia, University of Nicosia, Nicosia Lefkothea

The project has been entered as a Rotary Showcase Project at Rotary International

https://map.rotary.org/en/project/Pages

How to get involved?

As an individual: Start your own pollinator garden plot

As a ROTARY club: support the creation and maintenance of municipal or school pollinator plots

As a school: make pollinator gardens part of your biology curriculum

As a municipality: initiate, set up and sustain community pollinator gardens or pollinator parks

What is pollination and why is it important?

Pollination is an essential part of plant reproduction and is required for the continuation of a species. Some plants are able to pollinate themselves. Large majority of plants (85%) require pollination by an animal. Pollinators provide pollination services to over 180 000 different plant species and more than 1 200 crops. One out of every three bites of food you eat is there because of pollinators. Pollinators support healthy ecosystems. Pollinators are threatened by climate change and pollution.

Picture credits:
Lower left: Photo by J. Hoffman; National Wildlife Photo Contest; http://www.ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=20089
Lower right: Photo by A. Varnava; Varnava et al., 2020
Upper right: Source: https://www.reviewjournal.com/homes/advertising-features/summerlin-supports-school-pollinator-gardens-1979809/

What are the main pollinator species?

Pollinator animal species include (main species in bold): Ants, Bats, Bees, Beetles, Birds, Butterflies, Flies

What are the threats to pollinators and how can we protect them?

Cyprus, similar to other parts of the Mediterranean is undergoing rapid and intense changes in climate. Rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall adds to the desertification of the island. One of the consequences of desertification is a steady decline in the diversity of plant and animal species, including pollinators. In addition, the extensive use of agrochemicals and pollution from various sources reduce the habitats of pollinator species. What to do? Raise awareness on the value of pollinator species. Protect and maintain pollinator habitats. Create pollinator gardens and parks.

In Cyprus, a number of wild bee species are particularly important for the pollination. Some 11 species are only found on the island.

For more information, please contact