From the cloud forests and mountain trails of Central America to the urban housing estates of East London, the terraced farms of Nepal, and the green spaces of Kampala, pollinators are facing an unprecedented global crisis. But alongside this challenge, a vibrant, interconnected global movement is taking root.
Recently, project leaders, biologists, educators, and grassroots organizers gathered virtually for the inaugural Buzzlines International meeting hosted by ecoACTIVE. Organised to connect cross-border initiatives and exchange actionable strategies for pollinator conservation, this landmark session demonstrated how local community action can weave international lifelines for bees, butterflies, and hoverflies.
Here is an in-depth look at the ground-breaking projects shared across four continents during this milestone gathering.
Costa Rica: The Bee Run and the Pejivalle–Tapantí Biological Corridor
In Costa Rica, pollinator protection is merging with sports, eco-tourism, and rural economic development along El Camino de Costa Rica the renowned 280-kilometer trail stretching coast-to-coast from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Conchita Espino (Mar a Mar Association), alongside siblings Roger and Isela Fernandez, detailed their ambitious work establishing the Pejivalle–Tapantí Tourist Biological Corridor along stages 7 and 8 of the trail. The centerpiece of this initiative is the inaugural Costa Rica Bee Run, based out of Hacienda Tapantí in Cartago, surrounding Tapantí National Park.
The Costa Rica Bee Run
Designed as a conservation-driven mountain trail event, the Bee Run invites participants to tackle 5K and 10K routes winding through flowering coffee plantations, river passes, and cloud forest buffer zones. All proceeds directly fund local pollinator habitats and community apiaries along El Camino.
Key elements of the initiative presented by biologist Isela Fernandez include:
Purpose-Driven Native Flora: Prioritizing native species like Tuete (Vernonanthura patens), which doubles as a windbreak and high-protein cattle fodder. This gives surrounding farmers clear economic incentives to integrate bee-friendly plants into their land.
Diverse Habitat Construction: Moving beyond standard bee homes to incorporate clay banks, rock piles, sand patches, and deadwood. This accommodates Costa Rica’s 650–700 native bee species, the vast majority of which are solitary or ground-nesting.
Native Bee Tours (Meliponiculture): Working with Dr. Johan van Veen from the Center for Research on Tropical Bees at the National University of Costa Rica, the project is establishing stingless bee (Meliponini) hives across trail communities. Trained local residents offer guided "Bee Tours" for hikers on El Camino, turning native bee conservation into a sustainable source of income.
Community Engagement: The Bee Run is paired with an environmental fair, seed swaps, and educational exhibits. Every runner receives a packet of native pollinator seeds to plant at home, extending the corridor’s footprint beyond the trail.
London: Reclaiming Concrete and Turf at Kingsmead Estate
Rachel, gardener and project coordinator for the Hackney Buzzline (run by ecoACTIVE), shared an inspiring case study on transforming dense urban environments into thriving biodiversity refuges.
At the Kingsmead Estate—located in one of East London’s historically most deprived areas—the project responded to local residents' request for a peaceful memorial space by converting a sterile grass lawn into a biodiverse sanctuary.
Massive Biodiversity Growth: A botanical survey prior to construction revealed just 6 plant species on the site; today, the garden harbors over 120 plant species, attracting bumblebees, solitary bees, mint moths, blood bees, and over 8 species of hoverflies.
Urban Habitat Engineering: The team stripped away nutrient-dense turf, laid down sand to prevent competitive grasses from crowding out wildflowers, and constructed raised sandy "bee banks" for mining bees. Recycled construction rubble was packed into gabion cages to create warm shelters for overwintering invertebrates.
Hoverfly Lagoons: To support key non-bee pollinators, the team introduced dedicated stagnant water containers—creating essential breeding habitats for hoverfly larvae.
Community Healing: Partnering with the Hackney Mosaic Project, local residents undergoing mental health recovery designed custom mosaic artwork for the garden. The space now serves as a therapeutic community hub that combats social isolation while visually highlighting the urban pollinator corridor.
Nepal: Classrooms, TikTok, and 5,400 Farmers
Kailash provided an overview of the Darwin Initiative Nepal Pollination Project, a collaborative effort led by Harin / HERD International alongside LI-BIRD and the Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU). Operating across three provinces and diverse ecological zones, Nepal’s strategy blends scientific monitoring with widespread rural and youth engagement.
Farmer Field Schools (FFS): Over three years, the project is training 5,400 farmers. More than 120 lead farmers have completed "Training of Trainers" workshops to facilitate 18 dedicated field modules on pollinator-friendly farming techniques.
Targeted Crop Research: Demonstration plots monitor key pollinator-dependent crops, including apples, mandarins, lemons, cucumbers, mangoes, coffee, and lychees, comparing pollinator density, flowering diversity, and nesting habits against control farms.
Youth & Digital Campaigns: To inspire the next generation, the team is embedding pollination modules into primary and secondary school curricula, publishing storybooks, training teachers, and launching media campaigns with influencers on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.
Urban Green Spaces: Establishing 9 urban green spaces across various ecological zones to monitor insect populations across eight major pollinator categories.
Uganda: Campus Refuges and Grassroots Leadership
Representing the Kampala Buzzline, Hannington Sarah Unger, manager of the grassroots organization Marafiki, highlighted the power of international connectivity and the launch of the new Buzzlines International digital platform.
Anne from Makerere University contributed vital academic insights from her biodiversity surveys across agricultural landscapes, forest edges, and the university campus. Her findings confirm that urban campus green spaces act as crucial refuges for rare and overlooked bee, moth, and butterfly species, providing a strong foundation for future conservation funding and citywide corridor planning in East Africa.
A Shared Blueprint for Global Action
Whether constructing hoverfly lagoons in London, organizing trail runs for stingless bees in Costa Rica, holding farmer field schools in Nepal, or mapping urban biodiversity in Uganda, the first Buzzlines International meeting underscored a core principle: effective pollinator conservation relies on connecting physical habitats while empowering local communities.
With the international platform live, the Buzzlines network is poised to grow, linking landscapes, learning across borders, and building lifelines for pollinators around the world.
