Theory of Change for a National Pollinator Strategy in Portugal

The essential role of pollinators has been recognized by several governmental entities worldwide, culminating in the development of initiatives in support of pollinators. Among these is the EU Pollinator Initiative, which identifies three priorities: improving knowledge about pollinator decline, its causes and consequences; mitigating the drivers of this decline; and raising awareness by engaging society and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. To address pollinator decline in the EU and contribute to global conservation efforts, it is crucial to develop national Action Plans that respond to the strategic objectives defined by the European Union and identify a set of concrete actions to be implemented in each territory, according to its specific characteristics and particularities. In this context, in 2022, the Promote Pollinators Alliance, in collaboration with the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, supported workshops in Portugal based on the Theory of Change method. These workshops brought together national stakeholders with the mission of openly and transparently sharing experiences and lessons learned in the development, facilitation, and implementation of pollinator strategies. This process enabled the co-construction of a cause-effect action diagram to achieve a common overarching goal - the conservation of pollinators - and provided the opportunity to participate in COP15, raising awareness among Portuguese authorities about the need to allocate funds for the development of the Portuguese Pollinator Conservation Action Plan - PolinizAÇÃO. The culmination of these efforts is reflected in this document, which outlines lines of action and serves as the foundation for the development of the Action Plan for the Conservation and Sustainability of Pollinators in Portugal. Furthermore, this work describes a collaborative process through the Theory of Change, which may serve as inspiration for its application to other themes.