Simon Potts is Professor of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services at the University of Reading, UK.
After studying biology at Oxford University, UK, Simon completed his PhD at the University of St ...
IUCN COMMISSION GROUP
IUCN SSC Wild Bee Specialist Group
Overview and description
Description:
There are more than 20,000 species of wild bees and declines have been reported in all regions around the world. The Wild Bee Specialist Group is assessing the extinction risks for wild bees and their ...
Group leadership
Prof Simon POTTS
Co-Chair
Simon Potts is Professor of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services at the University of Reading, UK.
After studying biology at Oxford University, UK, Simon completed his PhD at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. Over the last 30 years he has worked closely with researchers, industry, NGOs and policymakers on the role of biodiversity and ecosystem services in farming systems in Europe, Africa, Asia and North and South America.
He is the Director of the Centre for Agri-Environmental Research at Reading University, UK, which focuses on providing research to support practices and policies to intensify food production while minimising negative environmental impacts. The Centre is a world-leader in the sustainable management of pollination services and pollinator conservation.
Simon is the co-chair of the United Nations IPBES, Intergovernmental science-policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services global assessment of ‘Pollinators, pollination and food production’. He has a wide variety of advisory roles with the UN, FAO, EU, national governments as well as agri-food industry and NGOs.
More about the Specialist Group
The Wild Bee Specialist Group aims to foster the conservation of wild bees and their habitats around the world by promoting and strengthening regional and global networks of specialists, conducting assessments of their conservation status, raising awareness among the public and policymakers, and engaging in practical conservation actions at local, regional and global scale.
Specialist Group work
The Wild Bee Specialist Group aims to support the evaluation of the extinction risk of bee species worldwide using the IUCN Red List Criteria, and publish species profiles on the IUCN Red List, with assessments contributing to advances in species protection globally.
Conservation Assessments
Support Red List assessments of wild bee species with a focus on those under-represented regions.
WBSG on the IUCN Red List
To inform conservation efforts, WBSG assesses species for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Annual Report
Learn about WBSG’s work and results in 2022.
Previous reports:
Eucera Dimidiata. Credit: Nicolas Vereecken
Osmia Andrenoides. Credit: Nicolas Vereecken
Anthophora Quadrimaculata. Credit: Nicolas Vereecken
