The findings cover more than 1,900 survey sites and compare five years before the ban with the post-ban period from 2019 to 2022. Experts call it an important milestone for EU conservation policy, but say the effect is modest and requires longer-term monitoring.

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Despite the rise, researchers say full recovery will take decades as neonicotinoids persist in soils, while other factors like habitat loss also affect bird populations. Experts call for broader environmental reforms to continue.