Pollinator Flight to Front Stage

4th Annual National Pollinator Week, June 21-27, Brings Action Across the Land
 
Washington, D.C., June 18, 2010 — Members of both parties of the U.S. House of Representatives announced today the formation of the first Congressional Pollinator Protection Caucus (CP2C) urging colleagues to join them in preserving pollinators.  CP2C plans to ensure that accurate information is available to legislators and staff across a broad spectrum of land issues.  Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and Rep. Tim Johnson (R-IL) are co-chairing CP2C and are launching the caucus as part of National Pollinator Week.  A “Dear Colleague” letter signed by the co-chairs and other founding members is being sent to fellow members of Congress to encourage their participation in the caucus.
 
“With one out of every third bite of food we humans consume dependent on bees and other animals for their pollination services, legislators need accurate information to help inform their positions,” commented Rep. Hastings.  “The caucus will seek out the best of pollinator science, economics and best practices,” said Rep. Johnson.  “This bi-partisan effort aims to support legislators’ understanding of the needs of their constituents with respect to pollinators, and we salute their cooperative drive to ensure that this issue gets the attention it deserves,” commented Pollinator Partnership (P2) Executive Director Laurie Davies Adams.  P2 supports National Pollinator Week and plays a leadership role on other pollinator actions including the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC).  “NAPPC truly supports pollinator outreach through National Pollinator Week, and we welcome this announcement from members of Congress.  The honey bee is just one pollinator that needs our attention to protect our future food and ecosystems,” added Prof. E. O. Wilson, world renowned Harvard biologist.  National Association of Conservation Districts President Steve Robinson stated, “Pollinators are critical to the health of the wild land and agricultural landscape, and we welcome this much-needed focus.” 
 
Congressional Briefing – In conjunction with the CP2C launch, members of Congress, staff, and the public are invited to a briefing (program at www.pollinator.org/briefing.htm) by pollinator experts on Thursday, June 24, at 3:30 PM at Longworth House Office Building, Room 1302.  As a special pollinator treat, pollinator supportive companies Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream and Burt’s Bees will provide ice cream and lip balm for attendees. Both Burt’s Bees and Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream are committed to the health of the honey bees that are instrumental in their products and in the well-being of plants, people and animals.
 
Pollinator Week Proclamations – Sec. of Agriculture Tom Vilsak put the official stamp on National Pollinator Week with a signed proclamation, and he was joined by more than 32 US State Governors in designating the last week of June as Pollinator Week (all listed on www.pollinator.org).  Pollinator Week is being celebrated in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and around the globe.
 
Take Action for Pollinators (TAP) – What can the general public do for pollinators?  The myriad of answers will be spotlighted each week beginning National Pollinator Week and will run for one year.  This new web-based program on www.pollinator.org/TAP.htm highlights specific actions that school groups, farmers, gardeners, foodies and others can take to “Take Action for Pollinators.”   The TAP program begins with a call to farmers to visit NRCS offices around the country to understand and participate in programs designed to provide programs to support pollinator buffers on their land.  Each week a different NAPPC partner will provide a new call to action to a different constituency, and all actions will be archived on the site. 
 
Portraits of Pollinators – A new pollinator photograph contest for North American high school students begins during National Pollinator Week and continues throughout the summer, ending on October 1.  Students are invited to send in their most striking photographs of bees, bats, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinating animals caught in the act of pollinating. Two winners will receive a camera, and ten winners will receive a poster and have their photos posted on the www.pollinator.org website.  You can read about all the details which are available at www.pollinator.org/photo_contest.htm.  
 
Other National Pollinator Week Activities – Pollinator supporters are taking action across the continent.  Examples include:  (1) a USDA sponsored People’s Garden panel discussion on “Pollinators in Decline” Monday, June 21 from 9:30 am to 10:30 am in Room 107-A of USDA’s Whitten Building in Washington, D.C., and then an invitation to “buzz on by!” The USDA People’s Garden from 10:30 am to 2 pm for numerous youth activities and exhibits about pollinators; and (2) a multiple event week in Tucson, AZ, that brings Pollinator Partnership, Bat Conservation International, and Audubon together in pollinator activities.  Events and activities are listed by state and country at www.pollinator.org/pollinator_week_2010.htm.
 
Island Press Pollinator Special – To celebrate Pollinator Week, Island Press will offer a special discount on three seminal books -- Forgotten Pollinators, Where Our Food Comes From and Public Produce.  A $1.00 donation will also be made to the Pollinator Partnership for each book sold by them to support their work.

Background – Colony Collapse Disorder continues to plague honey bees, stump researchers, and be a major concern to agricultural communities.  And honey bees are not the only pollinators in peril; bumble bee species in the East and the West also are vanishing from their customary habitats.  Loss of pollinator habitat was a major cause identified by the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council’s study of pollinators.  By planting for pollinators, we can rebuild pollinator habitat and make a significant, positive impact on the survival rates for honey bees and other pollinators. Whether urban or rural, pollinators obtain the vital nectar, pollen, and nesting resources they need to thrive from key plant species.  Mostly native, these plants are critical for survival and can be incorporated easily into all landscapes.

“A World of Pollinators” is the theme for 2010 National Pollinator Week. Schools, corporations, garden clubs, nature centers, and government groups sponsor events which teach pollinator-friendly practices and raise public awareness about the importance of all pollinating species, including bees, bats, beetles, butterflies, moths and even certain flies.  National Pollinator Week includes some new and fun outreach elements for 2010.  They include the free poster (pictured), free pollinator ringtones, education wheels, and more.  Visit www.pollinator.org/shop. 
 
National Pollinator Week is a project of the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (www.nappc.org), which is managed by the Pollinator Partnership.  To learn more, visit www.pollinator.org/pollinator_week_2010.htm.

posted June 2010