Non-Forest Woody Vegetation: A Critical Resource for Pollinators in Agricultural Landscapes-A Review

In light of pollinator decline, plant species suitable for the restoration and conservation of pollinators need to be selected. In this systemic review, we concentrated on the importance of NFWV (non-forest woody vegetation, i.e., linear or grouped trees/shrubs) for pollinators across agricultural landscapes. In the temperate climate zone, flowering trees and shrubs provide nectar sugar (energy) and pollen (nutrients) for managed and wild pollinators. They also create nesting niches and serve as host plants that support the full life cycle of wild pollinators. The creation of woodland strips/groups is a cost-effective and time-saving strategy to improve self-repeatable nectar and pollen resources on a landscape scale. The spatial distribution of NFWV can help to create an entire network of pollinator-friendly habitats. NFWV can support the continuity of food resources outside of the crop flowering season, i.e., during seasonal bottlenecks. This concept also offers other environmental benefits (e.g., water and air quality improvement, climate mitigation). However, future work should address the usefulness of trees/shrubs for different crops and regions to develop a network of flower-rich corridors. Likewise, more advanced and detailed studies are necessary to determine the qualitative characteristics of nectar and pollen, which may result in optimization of pollinator nutrition.

Automated summary

In this systemic review, the importance of non-forest woody vegetation (NFWV) for pollinators in agricultural landscapes is discussed. Flowering trees and shrubs in the temperate climate zone provide nectar sugar, pollen, nesting niches, and host plants for wild pollinators. Creating woodland strips/groups is a cost-effective strategy to improve pollinator habitats and ensure food resources throughout the year.