U.S. Pollinator Populations and Conservation Trends Dashboard

Pollinator populations in the US have declined sharply since their mid-20th-century peak, driven by habitat loss, intensive agriculture, and disease. The Conservation Reserve Program temporarily reversed declines in the 1980s and 1990s by restoring millions of acres of grassland and wildflower habitat, but habitat loss has accelerated since the early 2000s, especially in the Midwest, which has lost nearly half its restored land. Regions like the Southwest and Midwest now face the highest pollinator risk, with the proportion of at-risk bumblebee species tripling since the 1980s. The Northeast and Pacific Northwest remain more stable due to resilient land use and climate patterns. Targeted restoration (prairie and meadow reclamation, hedgerow planting, and wildflower strips) has proven effective, with some Midwest projects tripling local bumblebee numbers. Community-driven monitoring and restoration have expanded, improving data quality and restoration prioritization. However, climate change is expected to worsen habitat loss in the Southwest and Midwest by 2050, while the Northeast and Pacific Northwest may gain some pollinator habitat. The data show brief recovery followed by renewed decline and widening regional gaps. Sustained, regionally targeted restoration and broad public engagement are critical to reversing declines and safeguarding pollinator-dependent food systems.