Announcing Novel Steps To Promote Pollinator Health
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Pollinators are critical to the Nation’s economy, nutrient security, as well as environmental health. Honey bee pollination solitary adds to a greater extent than than $15 billion inwards value to agricultural crops each year, as well as helps ensure that our diets include ample fruits, nuts, as well as vegetables. This tremendously valuable service is provided to gild past times love bees, native bees as well as other insect pollinators, birds, as well as bats.
People of all ages as well as communities across the province tin play a usage inwards responding to the President’s telephone telephone to action. YOU tin portion or as well as therefore terra firma amongst pollinators—bees, butterflies, other insects, birds, bats—by planting a pollinator garden or setting aside or as well as therefore natural habitat. YOU tin intend carefully earlier applying whatever pesticides as well as ever follow the label instructions. YOU tin honor out to a greater extent than nigh the pollinator species that alive nigh you.
But pollinators are struggling. Last year, beekeepers reported losing nigh 40% of love bee colonies, threatening the viability of their livelihoods as well as the essential pollination services their bees render to agriculture. Monarch butterflies, too, are inwards jeopardy. The number of overwintering Monarchs inwards Mexico’s forests has declined past times 90% or to a greater extent than over the past times ii decades, placing the iconic annual North American Monarch migration at risk.
That’s why final June, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum directing an interagency Task Force to practice a Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees as well as Other Pollinators. Today, nether the leadership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Task Force is releasing its Strategy, amongst 3 overarching goals:
- Reduce love bee colony losses to economically sustainable levels;
- Increase monarch butterfly numbers to protect the annual migration; and
- Restore or lift millions of acres of terra firma for pollinators through combined world as well as somebody action.
The Strategy released today as well as its accompanying science-based Pollinator Research Action Planoutline needs as well as priority actions to amend empathise pollinator losses as well as improve pollinator health. These actions volition endure supported past times coordination of existing Federal query efforts as well as accompanied past times a asking to Congress for additional resources to response to the pollinator losses that are beingness experienced.
Increasing the quantity as well as character of habitat for pollinators is a major component of this effort—with actions ranging from the structure of pollinator gardens at Federal buildings to the restoration of millions of acres of Federally managed lands as well as like actions on somebody lands. To back upwardly these habitat-focused efforts, USDA as well as the Department of Interior are today issuing a laid upwardly ofPollinator-Friendly Best Management Practices for Federal Lands, providing practical guidance for planners as well as managers amongst terra firma stewardship responsibilities.
The President has emphasized the demand for an “all hands on deck” approach to promoting pollinator health, including hateful solar daytime of the month of citizens as well as communities as well as the forging of public-private partnerships. To foster collaboration, the interagency Pollinator Health Task Force will function toward developing a Partnership Action Plan that guides coordination amongst the many state, local, industry, as well as citizen groups amongst interests inwards as well as capacities to aid tackle the challenge facing pollinators.
 |
| Photo: Quang Ánh |
People of all ages as well as communities across the province tin play a usage inwards responding to the President’s telephone telephone to action. YOU tin portion or as well as therefore terra firma amongst pollinators—bees, butterflies, other insects, birds, bats—by planting a pollinator garden or setting aside or as well as therefore natural habitat. YOU tin intend carefully earlier applying whatever pesticides as well as ever follow the label instructions. YOU tin honor out to a greater extent than nigh the pollinator species that alive nigh you.
Today’s annunciation marks an of import pace toward promoting the wellness of pollinators that are critically of import to our economy, environment, as well as health.
- Read the National Strategy to Promote Pollinator Health HERE
- Read the Pollinator Research Action Plan HERE
- Read Pollinator-Friendly Best Management Practices for Federal Lands HERE
- Access Appendices to the National Strategy HERE
Dr. John P. Holdren is Assistant to the President for Science & Technology as well as Director of the White House Office of Science as well as Technology Policy.