Nature reserves and protected areas are the bedrock of biodiversity conservation. By safeguarding core habitats and restoring damaged ecosystems, reserves allow species to recover and thrive. For example, the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa is a model of large-scale restoration. For decades it has turned thousands of acres of former cornfields back into tallgrass prairie and oak savanna. Today roughly 5,600 acres of prairie are managed there, complete with fire management and roaming bison (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, n.d.). As the refuge expanded, grassland birds like Henslow’s sparrows, grasshopper sparrows and bobolinks  once in steep decline  have made a remarkable comeback, along with countless pollinators and wildflowers. This shows how resilient nature can be when given a chance.

Similar success stories exist worldwide. In Ireland, a recent EU‐funded “Living Bog” project began restoring over 3,000 hectares of raised peat bogs in multiple counties. By blocking drainage ditches, re-wetting the ground and removing encroaching scrub, scientists let the bogs rehydrate and native sphagnum moss and plants recolonize. Early results show that bird species like curlews and merlins are returning to these peatlands, demonstrating how targeted management in reserves can yield rapid biodiversity gains. In coastal areas, marine reserves are rebuilding coral reefs and seagrass beds to shelter fish and turtles; on dry land, projects like Neal Smith show that even industrial-scale restoration can renew entire ecosystems.

Polliknow at Dunsany Nature Reserve

In Ireland, Polliknow is collaborating with the Dunsany Nature Reserve to monitor Ireland’s largest privately owned nature reserve. Over 1,600 acres have been set aside for rewilding: native broadleaf forests, hedgerows and wildflower meadows are springing up where manicured lawn and farmland once were. Already, species like red kites, barn owls, pine martens and even otters have been recorded in the reserve. Polliknow’s technology will track the insects and plants in these regenerating habitats over time. By measuring pollinator abundance and diversity year after year, we can document how the reserve’s recovery boosts ecosystem health.

From national parks to private reserves, protected areas give nature room to breathe again. Restoration work – whether replanting forests or rebuilding grasslands – has repeatedly led to tangible gains for wildlife. Polliknow’s involvement at Dunsany Nature Reserve exemplifies this mission: by scientifically tracking ecological recovery and pollinator health, we ensure that conservation efforts are both meaningful and measurable.