Bumble bees (bombus SP.) are highly efficient pollinators of ecological and economic significance in northamerica, and substantial declines in widespread and formerly common species have been reported

The Nebraska Game & Parks Commission received a $370,294 Project Grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6 under the State Wildlife Grants Program (CFDA 15.634), effective January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028. The award supports the continuation and expansion of the Midwest Bumble Bee Atlas (MWBA), a conservation initiative addressing significant population declines in Bombus species across the Midwest. Primary deliverables include creating regional evidence-based conservation strategies, establishing a monitoring framework to inform endangered species recovery efforts, and developing pollinator habitat enhancement plots. The project directly supports species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) bumble bee species that have been petitioned for Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection.

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation serves as the primary sub-awardee, implementing the "Midwest Bumble Bee Atlas: Engaging Community Scientists to Conserve SGCN Bumble Bees in MN, IA, MO and NE" project. This collaborative initiative leverages community science participation across four Midwest states to conduct bumble bee population surveys, monitoring, and habitat assessment activities. The sub-award partnership combines Xerces Society's specialized expertise in invertebrate conservation and pollinator research with the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission's state wildlife management capacity to generate data supporting proactive conservation actions and ESA recovery planning before further species decline occurs.

Multiple speciesin the midwest have undergone dramatic declines, and several have been petitioned for endangered species act(ESA) protection. As such, there is a need to continue and build upon the midwest bumble BEE atlas (mwbba). Thepurpose of this grant is to create regional evidence-based conservation strategies, establish a monitoringframework, and use collected data to inform endangered species recovery. This grant will also support work toestablish pollinator plots to enhance pollinator habitats.