We propose to establish the framework for a multi-species, landscape-scale, long-term monitoring program to better understand the distributions, habitat associations, and conservation needs of…

This U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service award under the State Wildlife Grants (CFDA 15.634) program provides $459,406.00 to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to establish a long-term monitoring program for California bumble bees. The project aims to: 1) extend the existing California Bumble Bee Atlas survey for an additional year, 2) develop a priority framework for ongoing bumble bee monitoring across California, and 3) draft a comprehensive conservation strategy for these important pollinator species. CDFW has sub-awarded a portion of the funding to the Xerces Society, a non-profit focused on invertebrate conservation, to support the survey work and strategy development. This grant builds on prior community science efforts and will engage hundreds of Californians in inventory and monitoring activities to better understand the distribution, habitat needs, and conservation requirements of California's bumble bees, including six species of greatest conservation need.

We propose to establish the framework for a multi-species, landscape-scale, long-term monitoring program to better understand the distributions, habitat associations, and conservation needs of california bumble bees. Bumble bees (bombus SP.) are critical pollinators of wild and cultivated plants, yet one-quarter of california species are imperiledl, and a systematic survey of the state s native bumble bees has not been completed. This project builds on the california bumble BEE atlas (cabba), a community science collaboration between the california department of fish and wildlife (cdfw) and the xerces society for invertebrate conservation (xerces) to: 1) extend cabba survey work for an additional year to fill gaps not covered in the first three years of the project (2022-2024 aim 1) 2) use available datasets, including historical and recent observations of california s six species of greatest conservation need (sgcn) bumble BEE species to develop and implement a priority framework for long-term monitoring of bumble bees throughout california (aim 2) and 3) use data from cabba, historic specimen records, and spatial datasets on threats and management activities to draft a comprehensive conservation strategy for california bumble bees (aim 3). Accomplishing the three aims of the project will provide an evidence-based road map for the conservation of these important species while engaging hundreds of californians in inventory and monitoring.