In trying to preserve our pollinators, the RestPoll researchers are always eager to share their many successes. However, life is not always a rosy affair; for insects or for humans. In a project as large as RestPoll, there are bound to be obstacles on the way. This article shows some of the challenges involved in working on the world’s biodiversity. This way, the success stories shine even more brightly.
Project size
The first challenge facing RestPoll rests in the sheer size of the project. It encompasses no fewer than 32 partners from 16 countries. These partners include research institutes, ministries, companies, an NGO, and a national park. It should come as no surprise that there will be differences in cultures, expectations and wishes between all the partners. Fortunately, the conversations among the collaborators bring them onto the same page. The project size is also an advantage, as best practices are shared between partners.
Living Labs cooperation
The Living Labs are a special case of inter-country cooperation. As there are 17 labs in 14 European countries, they literally do not all speak the same language. Furthermore, not all of the Living Labs had already been established before RestPoll started. Some of the labs have therefore developed in their own directions, as determined by their unique circumstances and collaborators. Zehra Başaran is helping establish and monitor the Living Labs within RestPoll.
To ensure interaction and synergy between the various labs, Zehra encourages unity and solidarity. Each Living Lab should know about the progress of the others and be able to find common ground on which to meet and build. The team organise training sessions so that these labs can learn from one another. In addition, such sessions function as small newsletters, in which the developments of all Living Labs are mentioned and shared. By keeping open files, agendas and documents, the project team also creates transparency.
Collaboration partners
Another challenge lies in the very nature of the cooperation within the RestPoll project. The Living Labs collaborate with social scientists, natural scientists and the community. As the labs combine factual science and real-life conditions, the research approaches always have to be tailored to the unique circumstances of the individual sub-projects. As Zehra puts it, the Living Labs create a uniform picture through colourful harmony.
In establishing connections between science and society, conflicting interests can also pose a challenge. When stakeholders have a neutral or negative experience of research on pollinators in the field, they may approach a new project with caution. By contrast, if a previous project has been well received, stakeholders are generally positive towards a new field study. In these circumstances, providing good information is the best solution.
Farming approaches
The Living Lab in Hungary offers an example of overcoming a communicative challenge. In Central and Eastern Europe, arable land farming is dominant in many regions. In these cases, farmers often see little benefit from wild pollinators and tend to rely on managed honey bee populations for pollination services. The national park housing the Living Lab thus reached out to local farmers for study sites and to ensure their crucial involvement.
As the success of the study would be impossible without the participation of farmers, Sándor Piross and his colleagues wanted to strengthen the bonds between research and agriculture. To this end, they set up a RestPoll booth for the annual meeting of farmers in the area during St. George’s Day Cattle Driving Festival. As a result, there is increased enthusiasm for the farm measures to protect pollinators.
Setting an example
Encouraging sustainable agriculture in this Living Lab takes a wide range of approaches. On the agricultural lands that the national park leases to others, conservation principles are enforced. The park also manages lands itself, focusing on the restoration of habitats or biodiversity. This way, it tries to set a good example for local farmers, educating them on techniques like minimal tillage, organic fertilisation, weed control and flower strips.
The above examples demonstrate that RestPoll research can sometimes be a rocky road. Both the scope of the project and the differences among collaborators pose challenges. As long as there is open communication and information among all partners in RestPoll, however, the obstacles can be overcome. The successes may even smell much sweeter as a result of the prickly thorns encountered on the way.
