On June 12, the House unanimously passed House Resolution 385 (Matzie-D-Allegheny) designating the week of June 17 to 23 as Pollinator Week in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary).
“It’s been said that bees are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat,” said Rep. Rob Matzie, prime sponsor. “That’s not surprising considering the vital role they play in maintaining natural plant communities and ensuring production of seeds in flowering plants. In fact, pollinators serve more than 180,000 different plant species and more than 1,200 crops, adding $217 billion to the global economy.
“Unfortunately, honeybee colonies are declining as a result of pesticides, parasites and other factors, and their decreasing population could gravely impact our food supply. It’s my hope that this resolution will help raise awareness about the all-important role bees and other pollinators play so we can work toward better protecting them.”
Pollinators also promote healthy ecosystems that clean the air, stabilize the soil, protect crops from severe weather and support other wildlife.
In addition to the work of Pollinator Partnership, Rep. Matzie’s resolution recognizes the efforts of the Pennsylvania Beekeepers Association, the state Department of Agriculture, the Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension and Delaware Valley University for their collective work on processes that promote pollination and beekeeping.
To learn more about threats to pollinators and steps being taken to protect them, visit Penn State’s Pennsylvania Pollinator Protection Plan webpage.
Pollinator/Native Plant Resources
There are lots of resources available to help property owners landscape with native plants, and now is the best time to start planning for Spring projects. Here are just of a few of the resources available--
-- Game Commission: Common Beneficial Plants Found In Wildlife Habitat
-- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Native Plants For Wildlife Habitat And Conservation Landscaping
-- Brandywine Conservancy: Forested Riparian Buffer Planting Guide
-- Audubon PA: Bird Habitat Recognition Program
-- National Audubon: Native Plants Database
-- Pennsylvania Pollinator Protection Plan - Learn Why Pollinators Are At Risk In PA
You can also check with land trusts, watershed groups, PA Audubon and Trout Unlimited Chapters, county conservation districts or other groups near you to see how they can help.
Related Stories:
Feature: Recognizing The Value Of Native Plants For Pollinators - Dr. Doug Tallamy
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