Through pollination, bumble bees contribute an estimated 3 billion dollars annually to usagriculture and provide innumerable ecological services to natural areas

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 3 awarded the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources $368,768 on January 1, 2026, under the State Wildlife Grants Program (CFDA 15.634) to expand the Midwest Bumble Bee Atlas and establish long-term conservation monitoring for species of greatest conservation need.

The recipient will conduct a comprehensive census of ten species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) bumble bee species across the Midwest by enhancing existing volunteer networks through targeted recruitment and training in standardized survey methodology. The project builds on prior work that mobilized hundreds of community scientists across Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota to conduct over 1,500 surveys yielding more than 15,000 observations, including more than 3,300 observations of SGCN species. Survey data will directly inform Endangered Species Act status assessments and environmental review processes. The recipient will deliver a regional bumble bee conservation plan identifying priority geographic areas, essential habitats, host plants for SGCN species, and science-based monitoring recommendations. The initiative leverages partnerships among four state wildlife agencies, regional universities, and the Xerces Society to build a robust network of trained volunteers.

Performance occurs in Minnesota with a period of performance running through December 31, 2028. This is a project grant (competitive assistance type) that addresses proactive conservation for species not hunted or fished and supports implementation programs aligned with state Wildlife Action Plans.

Unfortunatelymany species face an uncertain future. Six species of bumble BEE in the midwestern usare protected by or are being considered for endangered species act protections due towidespread population declines. Multiple interacting threats affect all bumble BEE species.limited data on their distribution and population status hinders effective conservationaction. We propose to expand on the successful midwest bumble BEE atlas program whichhas already mobilized hundreds of community scientists across missouri, iowa, nebraska, and minnesota to conduct over 1,500 surveys yielding more than 15,000 bumble beeobservations. This includes more than 3,300 observations of species of greatestconservation need or sgcn. Our project will build on this foundation to complete acomprehensive census of ten sgcn bumble BEE species and establish a long termmonitoring framework that generates critical data for state and federal conservationplanning. The project will enhance existing volunteer networks through targeted recruitmentand training enabling participants to conduct standardized bumble BEE surveys with a focuson learning more about sgcn species detection and occupancy. The resulting data willdirectly inform ESA species status assessments and streamline environmental reviewprocesses. By project completion we will deliver a regional bumble BEE conservation planthat identifies priority geographic areas. The plan will also highlight essential habitats andhost plants for sgcn species and provide science based monitoring recommendations. Thisinitiative leverages an established partnership among four state wildlife agencies alongwith multiple regional universities and the xerces society who together have built a robustnetwork of trained volunteers. Building upon this existing conservation community we willdevelop a comprehensive roadmap that equips states with the tools and data needed toimprove sgcn bumble BEE populations and their critical habitats.