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National Pollinator Strategy
The National Pollinator Strategy is a ten-year UK government plan, launched in 2014 by the then Secretary of State for the Environment, Liz Truss. It sets out actions and priorities to ensure that issues that have led to MAJOR (REF) national pollinator declines are identified and addressed. (CHECK THIS IS A FAIR COMMENT)

Aims and objectives
The government's National Pollinator Strategy aims to determine ways of improving pollinator populations and to establish why those populations have been in serious decline. It identifies five priority areas:
 * 1) Supporting pollinators on farmland/agricultural land.
 * 2) SUpporting pollinators in urban areas, cities and rural areas;
 * 3) Improving responses to pests and diseases;
 * 4) Increasing the awareness of what pollinators need in order to survive and thrive
 * 5) Enhancing the evidence-base on the status of pollinators and the services they provide us with.

Background

 * State of Nature report
 * 97% loss of wild flower-rich meadows
 * Rising concern/research linking pesticide use/agricultural intensification to polllinator declines
 * Ecomomic importance of pollinated crops to U.K. economy
 * Ecosystem services from pollinators, worth xxxx to economy.
 * Extinction of species in U.K.

Because of their importance in pollinating high-yield crops, natural pollination is valued to benefit the UK economu by £430m to £510m.

History (or development path)

 * Origins Lawton/Environment White Paper/ Govt statement on leaving envy better for next generation.
 * Consultation
 * Draft
 * Launch

In 2013, mounting pressure from scientists, MPs, businesses, environmental campaign groups and the public (all of whom were concerned at the increasing evidence of (SIGNIFICANT?) insect declines), triggered the UK government into launching an urgent review of the crisis that pollinators were facing. It also elicited a promise by the government to introduce a national pollinator strategy. A group of independent experts were then brought together by Professor Ian Boyd (Defra's chief scientific adviser) to start to identify knowledge gaps about the UK's pollinator populations.


 * OUTCOMES
 * RECEPTION & CRITICISM not going far enough/neonics
 * REF EVIDENCE
 * PROVE SIGNIFICANCE/NOTABILITY

Criticism
Upon its launch, the government's National Pollinator Strategy was immediately and broadly welcomed by many mainstream conservation and environmental groups and scientists, but it was (HEAVILY?) criticised for not going far enough in addressing the root causes of bee declines (especially with regard to the impact of neonicotonoids in the environment.) and for the lack of specific targets or mandatory requirements for action.

The bee biologist, Dave Goulson, criticised the strategy for containing weak, voluntary measures to limit pesticide use, when firmer action and controls are needed.

The Green Party MP and EAC member, Caroline Lucas, stated that the key weakness of the government strategy was the failure to implement a ban on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides. Ref:

Need NFU view here, or higher up section.

s launch by environmental groups, scientists and politicians for failing to address a major threat to the health of bees, namely that of the significant impact of intensive farming practices that relying on heavy use of pesticides. MENTION NEONICS

Criticism
Insert text from ref notes.