U.S. pollinator conservation has fluctuated dramatically over the past century. Major gains came in the 1980s with federal programs like the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which restored over 36 million acres at its peak and significantly boosted pollinator populations, especially in the Midwest. Since 2006, reductions in CRP acreage and agricultural intensification have driven sharp habitat losses, especially in the Midwest, where nearly half of CRP land has been lost. Honey bee colonies have dropped from over 3 million in the 1980s to under 2.7 million today, and the number of at-risk bumblebee species has more than tripled.
Regionally, the Midwest and Southwest face the highest proportion of threatened pollinator species due to drought, monoculture, and land conversion. The Pacific Northwest and Northeast are more stable but still at risk from pesticides and urbanization. Targeted restoration projects in the Upper Midwest have proven effective, but overall recovery is uneven and often outpaced by ongoing declines.
Climate change is shifting pollinator habitats, with projected losses in the Southwest and Midwest by 2050 but possible gains in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest. Community science networks are increasingly important for monitoring and guiding restoration. Despite greater awareness and participation, funding cuts, policy rollbacks, and fragmented regional efforts are eroding previous gains. Sustained investment in restoration, adaptive management, and strong integration of community science and policy reform are critical for stabilizing U.S. pollinator health.