Indicators of ecosystem potential for pollination and honey production

Dry grassland and early successional pine forests were assigned highest values in terms of pollination potential, as well as cropland, young swamp pine forests and dry grassland in the case of honey production. In turn, mature alder and riparian forests, together with wetlands, ranked lowest for both bee services. This study confirmed that ecosystem capacities to deliver bee services tend to contrast greatly with potentials as regards many other ecosystem services (e.g. carbon sequestration or erosion control). This obviously complicates management policies and requires that the concept of trade-offs be embraced. The proposed indicators, as combined with detailed mapping of ecosystem capacities differ from pan-European modelling in being of value to particular stakeholders, and in support of decision-making processes regarding beekeeping, farming and nature conservation.