Wild pollinators at the Couvrot chalk quarry, an asset for the region

“Whether bees, bumblebees, ants, butterflies or flies, pollinating insects transport pollen for 80% of flowering plants. This is how plants are fertilized and reproduce. The seeds and fruits resulting from fertilization provide food for many animals, including humans. But pollinating insects are falling victim to habitat loss, climate change and pollution.

The number of pollinating insect species and the population sizes of many species are declining. In some places, this decline is in the order of 70% to 90%. While it's still difficult to put a global figure on this phenomenon, the facts are clear. Source: Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, 2024

The Couvrot cement plant is located on the Champagne coast, in the heart of the chalky Champagne region, a natural area dominated by arable farming. This location makes the plant a refuge for a certain type of biodiversity.

While studies carried out on a regular basis on the site highlight its importance for the life cycle of numerous plant and animal species, the group of insect pollinators is completely unknown. Yet this group is of major interest to human societies, thanks to its role in food production (seeds and fruit).

Knowledge of wild pollinators in France is very incomplete. For the purposes of this study, we have chosen to focus on a single type of pollinator: the group of wild bees.

The aim of this project is to highlight the importance of the Couvrot cement works for the conservation of wild bees in the “Chalky Champagne” natural region.