WASHINGTON — Bumblebees play an essential role in maintaining the stability and diversity of ecosystems through pollination; unfortunately, eight species in Washington are considered rare and at risk. To protect these vital insects, partners formulated and adopted a new conservation strategy across the state to promote proactive conservation actions for rare or sensitive species. …the Washington Bumble Bee Conservation Strategy, adopted in February of 2023, was developed collectively through a partnership between the USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, and The Xerces Society. The strategy focuses on eight rare species of bumble bees and identifies priority areas and includes key recommendations for managing land cover, protecting nesting habitat and creating foraging areas. …In the Pacific Northwest, the Forest Service and BLM partnered to form the Interagency Special Status and Sensitive Species Program and are implementing the bumblebee conservation strategy.