Beyond the City: Connecting Urban and Rural Areas through LIFE PolliNetwork Posted on 28 September 2026 LIFE PolliNetwork will take part on 3 and 4 October in the annual event organised by WWF across 100 squares throughout Italy, with information stands dedicated to pollinators and events organised by WWF and its partner associations. The initiative is designed for anyone who wants to learn more about the importance of pollinators in urban environments. Cities and Countryside Without Borders for Pollinators Under the guidance of WWF and through its involvement in a wide range of projects dedicated to pollinators, cities become connecting points within a national network of restored habitats for pollinators. > “Based on their degree of urbanisation, 63.8 per cent of Italian municipalities are classified as rural areas; small towns and suburbs account for 33.0 per cent of municipalities, while cities account for 3.2 per cent.” (ISTAT) Cities cannot exist without the support provided by rural areas, which account for more than 90% of the national territory. It is essential to take an integrated view of the spaces inhabited by both people and pollinators, recognising the continuum that connects urban and rural areas. In support of this vision of the territory as a single, interconnected system, WWF, together with the LIFE PolliNetwork project partners, is focusing its efforts on the three main groups of pollinators – bees, butterflies and hoverflies – supporting the experimental restoration of 88 hectares across 10 Italian regions by the end of 2030. Habitat restoration and biodiversity as the key to survival Pollinators also inhabit urban areas and all the territories shaped and inhabited by humans. They live alongside us, but our presence interferes with their needs and life cycles. Their presence is closely linked to ours. For this reason, and to mitigate the effects of our interference with their habitats, the project aims to restore and recreate these habitats, promoting the biodiversity they need to thrive. LIFE PolliNetwork aims to create connections between restored pollinator habitats through the creation of “Buzz Lines”, ecological corridors along linear infrastructure, such as roads, railways and power stations. The project proposes and implements replicable nature restoration models and promotes opportunities for citizens to get involved through citizen science activities dedicated to monitoring pollinating insects, including in urban areas. In this way, it is possible to rebuild the connection between people living in urban and rural areas and the world of pollinating insects. Did you know that… Bees, butterflies and hoverflies all provide an essential ecosystem service. As they move from flower to flower in search of nectar and pollen, they unknowingly carry pollen between plants, facilitating their fertilisation and the production of new seeds and fruit. Each group does so in different habitats, with individual species becoming further specialised. Here are some interesting facts about each of them: There are around 1,050 different species of bees, or apoids, which are divided into six families: Apidae, Andrenidae, Colletidae, Melittidae, Megachilidae and Halictidae. They feed on nectar and pollen, which is also provided to their larvae in their nests. Only bumblebees and honey bees – species that live in colonies with structured social groups – store nectar as honey, using it as an energy source to generate heat during the winter months and maintain a temperature of 33–34°C. Butterflies are “diurnal lepidopterans”, insects characterised by wings covered in colourful scales, making them easily recognisable to humans. They are highly vulnerable, and even the slightest changes in climate or alterations to their habitat can cause them to disappear. For this reason, they are used as indicators to assess habitat biodiversity, and a European monitoring system, the European Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (eBMS), has been developed for this purpose. Hoverflies belong to a family of Diptera, the order of insects that includes what are commonly known as “flies”. Hoverflies are known for their mimicry of bees, bumblebees and wasps. Adults feed on pollen and nectar and, due to their dependence on flowers, are important pollinators. In fact, hoverflies visit more than 50% of agricultural crops and are among the dominant pollinators in mountain environments, particularly at high altitudes. Their larvae display a wide range of feeding habits, including important predators of aphids, thus playing a significant role in their control and prevention. Come and discover pollinators up close. Come and discover the project, co-funded by the European Union’s LIFE Programme, the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, and Fondazione Cariplo, in the 100 squares taking part in Urban Nature. Follow the project here and follow WWF Italy’s social media channels to discover some fascinating facts about the pollinators featured in the project.
