The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and its partners have launched the first-ever Pine Hoverfly Conservation Strategy, a landmark plan designed to safeguard one of Britain’s most endangered native species and restore the health of the native woodland ecosystems it calls home.

The strategy, developed by the Pine Hoverfly Steering Group as part of the Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms (RIC) project, sets out a coordinated, science-led approach focused on breeding, habitat restoration, identification of suitable release sites, post-release monitoring and securing ongoing project funding. This comprehensive plan aims to reverse the decline of the pine hoverfly, an insect that plays a crucial role as both pollinator and decomposer in Scotland’s forest environments.

Dr Helen Taylor, conservation programme manager at RZSS, said, “The Pine Hoverfly Conservation Strategy is a major milestone. It provides a clear roadmap for improving the long-term prospects of this species and highlights the importance of a collaborative effort across multiple organisations to maximise chances of conservation success. Having a clear strategy is recognised as a key step in reversing the decline of threatened species and is a key part of the work that RZSS is involved in.