A Review of Research Needs for Pollinators in Managed Conifer Forests

Managed conifer forests in temperate regions are critical for supplying wood products, but little is known about their potential for pollinator conservation. We hosted a workshop for Pacific Northwest managers and biologists to identify perceived information gaps regarding pollinators in managed conifer forests; we also undertook a literature review on this topic to assess gaps in the primary literature. The most important gaps identified by workshop participants were a need for baseline data on pollinators in managed conifer forests, and for determining how forest management influences pollinators. Our literature review found a dearth of pollinator studies in managed conifer forests, which were limited to few regions and a subset of taxa. Given these findings, we developed a research agenda that targets identified knowledge gaps, including the need for documenting fundamental aspects of pollinator ecology in managed conifer forests and testing how pollinators and their habitats are influenced by management activities.