In Boulder, Colorado, there is a small but growing movement to „rewild“ urban spaces by reintroducing native plants. Their goal is to provide a natural habitat where wild pollinators can thrive for generations to come. Spearheading this mission is Andrea Montoya. Its advocacy program, Pollinator Advocates (PA),1 We aim to reintroduce thousands of native plants to public spaces around Boulder.
In an article in Modern Farmer,2 „We are confident that this has led to an empirical increase in the number of insects and hummingbirds in our neighborhoods. We are currently working with entomologists to begin surveys throughout the city,“ Montoya said. ”.
Transforming an “ecosystem graveyard” into a thriving ecosystem
A gardening enthusiast, Montoya is well-versed in the healthcare field, having spent decades working as a physician's assistant and providing support to patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases. After her retirement in 2015, her life changed. That's when she decided it was time to help heal „our great mother.“
In 2018, Montoya discovered a native bee hive in the library while walking with her grandson. This sparked my deep interest in these natural pollinators and led me to delve deeper into research.she studied ecological science3 I also took courses at the University of Chicago to learn from local experts.
The new insight opened Montoya's eyes to the reality that her own crowded neighborhood, a concrete jungle of homes and buildings, is an „ecological graveyard.“ “The more I read about these native bees and plants and ecosystems, the more I realized that the reason pollinators are in such decline is because they are losing habitat,” she says. .
This realization sparked her community work. In 2019, she began distributing her native plants to her neighbors and then recruited volunteers to plant them in small public spaces, creating so-called „pocket parks.“ This process helped educate about pollinators and their importance to a thriving ecosystem.
Montoya launched the Pollinator Advocacy Program in 2021. She draws on her Polish and Mexican heritage to harmoniously connect with people from different backgrounds. She has so far provided thorough training to nearly 50 members of her community. Working with these dedicated people, Pollinator Advocates has been able to reintroduce thousands of native plants to gardens and parks across the city.
Almost half of honey bee colonies will be lost by 2023
It may seem like a small effort. However, 35% of the world's crops (fruits, vegetables, legumes) and 75% of flowering plants rely on bees and other pollinators for reproduction. This type of program is one of the most important movements we should actively support.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that one in three bites of the food you eat comes from pollinators.Four — and potentially even more if you're consuming whole foods. Therefore, the knowledge that these insects and wildlife are being lost at increasing rates is alarming.
Wild honeybees in particular have suffered significant population declines over the past decade. In fact, the decline of wild bees has led farmers to rely on rented bees to pollinate their crops. These rented bees are managed by commercial beekeepers who move their hives from one location to the next in trucks.Five
In last year's survey,6 A study by the University of Maryland and Auburn University found that 48.2% of managed honey bee colonies were lost from April 2022 to April 2023, an increase of 9.2% from the previous year. . This was almost the same amount as the largest annual loss ever between 2020 and 2021. According to the Associated Press article:7
„Bees are vital to our food supply, pollinating more than 100 crops we eat, including nuts, vegetables, berries, citrus, and melons. The combination continues to cause large-scale die-offs.
„This is a very alarming loss number at a time when we are barely managing enough colonies to meet the U.S.'s pollination needs,“ said the former government bee scientist, who was not involved in the study. said Jeff Pettis, president of the World Beekeepers Association Apimondia. “It also highlights the hard work beekeepers have to do to rebuild colony numbers each year.”
Millions of human deaths are linked to loss of pollinators
2022 study published in the journal Environment Health Perspectives8 It is estimated that food production losses due to lack of pollinators result in 427,000 excess deaths annually worldwide, most of which are due to chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Researchers have created a model to demonstrate the impact of insufficient pollination on global human health, finding that 3% to 5% of fruit, vegetable and nut production is lost as a result. Ta. This leads to nutritional loss and an increase in associated diseases. They reported:9
„Our results highlight the importance of pollinators to human health and the urgency to implement pollinator-friendly policies to halt and reverse pollinator decline trends. It's increasing.
Diverse research investigating optimal policies to benefit pollination has shown highly effective ways to increase the abundance and diversity of flowers on farms, reduce pesticide use, and preserve or restore nearby natural habitats. There is a surprising consensus on a short list of strategies. ”
In an article published in Common Dreams,Ten Commenting on the study, Amy Van Thorne, senior attorney at the Center for Food Safety, emphasized that toxic chemical pesticides are a major cause of honey bee population declines.
“Imagine a world without apples, melons, pumpkins, broccoli, and almonds. Three-quarters of the crops we consume depend on pollinators, and if we were to save them from extinction, Scientists agree that we need to ban the pesticides that are primarily responsible for their deaths.
Neonics are the biggest threat to pollinators
Unfortunately, many Americans are unaware that the majority of soybean, corn, canola, and sunflower seeds planted in the United States are pre-coated with neonicotinoid pesticides, or „neonics.“ not.11 As Van Thorne further elaborates in his commentary, these toxic chemicals are most implicated in pollinator declines. They are so deadly that a single grain of treated corn can contain enough poison to kill more than 80,000 bees.12
Neonics can accumulate rapidly in the environment, contaminating soil, surface water, and groundwater, and harming species that live in these ecosystems. What's worse, neonicotinoids don't help farmers at all.
According to a 2014 study13 A study conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that treating soybean seeds with neonicotinoids provides no significant economic or agricultural benefit to farmers. In an article published on the site, Jay Feldman, executive director of the nonprofit organization Beyond Pesticides, commented:14
“This report reiterates the need for EPA to ask the critical question of whether a chemical is truly necessary and effective before introducing it into the environment. Because seeds are largely exempt from federal pesticide laws under the Treated Goods Clause, this oversight allows dangerous chemicals to be used largely unregulated and harms domestic pollinators. It’s a huge blow.”
„It's a chance for us as humans to right our mistakes.“
Returning to local efforts to protect the future of honeybees and other pollinators, Montoya said she feels the advocacy program is now “bigger than I ever imagined” and is proud of its work. He says he thinks so. However, it is not always smooth sailing and you may encounter difficulties along the way. One of the most notable challenges is helping people overcome their fear of insects.15
„When she goes into communities to talk about pollinators, she starts with species that don't cause much anxiety, such as butterflies or hummingbirds. If the conversation is going well, she starts with species that don't cause much anxiety, such as butterflies or hummingbirds. Pull out pictures of native bees. Seeing these insects in a less scary way, like the metallic green sweat bee or the rumbling bumble bee, can help people appreciate the benefits of native pollinators. and open your heart to beauty.”
If you live in Boulder, consider joining the Pollinator Advocacy Program. We are accepting applications until May 5, 2024.16 Anyone over the age of 18, even beginner gardeners, can participate.
This program is sponsored by the city and is free to attend. However, there are time constraints, so please make sure you have time before attending. The reward is worth it because you can help improve wild pollinator habitat in your local community.
Save bees — 3 ways you can help
Even if you live outside of Boulder, you can participate in a small but impactful practice to save bees. Montoya recommends his three strategies.17
- Stop using toxic chemical pesticides and turn to natural pest management options instead — The best pest management strategy is to create native habitat because there are more beneficial insects that can prey on and eliminate harmful insects.
- When adding plants to your garden or farm, plant plants native to your area that bloom over as many seasons as possible. „Plants that require native soil don't actually need all the nutrients in the edible garden,“ Montoya advises. Be sure to leave a distance of 100 to 300 feet between native plants and vegetable beds to ensure all plants can grow.
- Leave some bare soil behind — Many native bee species nest in the ground. Do not add mulch, thick cover crops, or plastic covers to the soil.
Celebrate World Bee Day on May 20th
In December 2017, the United Nations General Assembly declared May 20th as World Bee Day.18 It was started by the Slovenian Beekeepers Association to raise awareness about the significant impact of honeybees, other pollinating insects and wildlife. Most of them are on the verge of extinction due to anthropogenic factors.
The date they chose also has meaning, as it is the birthday of Anton Janša, who pioneered modern beekeeping techniques in his native Slovenia in the 18th century and praised the ability of bees to work hard with little care. This is because they are in agreement. ” According to the United Nations website,19
“The goal is to strengthen measures aimed at protecting honey bees and other pollinators, which will make a significant contribution to solving problems related to the world's food supply and eradicating hunger in developing countries. We all depend on pollinators, so it's important to monitor them to reduce biodiversity and stop the loss. ”
There are several other ways you can protect pollinators, not just on World Honey Bee Day, but every day. The proposal from the Slovenian Ministry of Agriculture is as follows:20
Plant nectar-producing flowers in your yard, garden or balcony to feed bees. Also, avoid using toxic pesticides and herbicides that can harm pollinators. If you have a farm, large or small, be sure to include flowers that support wild bee populations. The following video, created by Project Integrated Crop Pollination, shows some helpful planting methods. |
Keep your beekeeping business running by purchasing honey and other hive products from local beekeepers. |
Teach children about the importance of bees and beekeepers. |
Set up a beehive. |
Protect your meadows and sow wildflowers in your garden. Make sure the wildflower mix you choose includes flowers that are native to your area. Exotic plants do not contribute much to the care or feeding of local insects because they cannot adapt and eat whatever is available. Hybrid plants can also be likened to „junk food“ for insects, as they do not provide adequate nutrition and do not offer much in terms of nutrition.twenty one |
To avoid depriving bees of important nutrients, wait to mow until the nectar-bearing plants have finished blooming. |
If you are using a non-toxic pest control product, be sure to spray during times of little or no wind, and early in the morning or late at night when bees are not actively foraging. |
Flowering plants and trees that need to be sprayed with insecticides should be mulched before spraying to avoid attracting bees. |