Workshop on Pollination Ecology Enhances SONATA Research

To reverse the decline in farmland biodiversity and make rural areas more attractive places to live, there is a need to restore semi-natural grassland habitats and increase crop yields, ultimately making farming more profitable and life in rural areas more sustainable.

As part of this effort, Professor Ørjan Totland from the University of Bergen introduced SONATA researchers to the field of pollination ecology during an online workshop. The event provided a theoretical foundation on insect pollination for participants from diverse research backgrounds, highlighting the importance of this topic for SONATA activities.

The lecture was followed by a hands-on exercise analyzing the effects of pollinator abundance on crop pollination. The workshop aimed to familiarize participants with pollination ecology and provide practical experience in analyzing data on pollen limitation.

By integrating these insights, the workshop ensures that SONATA’s Nature-based Solutions (NbS) modelling is informed not only by spatial patterns but also by ecosystem process dynamics and ecosystem service delivery.