Promoting pollinators

In June, dozens of conservation and gardening organizations formed the National Pollinator Garden Network and launched a nationwide campaign – the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge. Designed to accelerate growing efforts across America, the challenge supports President Barack Obama’s call to action to reverse the decline of pollinating insects, such as honey bees and native bees, as well as monarch butterflies.

The National Pollinator Garden Network (NPGN) is challenging the nation to reach the goal of one million additional pollinator gardens by the end of 2016. The network will work to provide resources for individuals, community groups, government agencies and the green industry to create more pollinator habitat.

“Never before has the president of the United States asked individual Americans to take direct action to reverse species decline,” says Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Recently the president announced his national strategy on pollinator health, and individuals are going to have to be a big part of that solution, building upon what the federal agencies have already agreed to do. Never before have we had the opportunity to crowdsource a habitat solution to such a critical ecological challenge.”

Find information on how to get involved, what to plant, why it’s important, and a list of all partner organizations at millionpollinatorgardens.org.

Every habitat of every size counts, from window boxes and garden plots to farm borders, golf courses, school gardens, and corporate and university campuses. All spaces – where people live, work, play and worship can, with small improvements, offer essential food and shelter for pollinators. This creates an exciting opportunity for the entire green industry – seed producers, breeders, growers and retailers, as well as landscape contractors, designers and architects – to play a major role in the challenge.

“We see this as a tremendous opportunity for horticulture. Many of the large landscape habitat restoration efforts will rely on seed, and especially native seed. There are questions about adequate availability, but seed industry advocates point out that private industry can scale up production more cost-effectively and efficiently than government programs could,” says Craig Regelbrugge, senior vice president, Industry Advocacy & Research at AmericanHort. “Bearing in mind that the challenge urges gardens of all sizes, from window box or patio planters to large-scale landscapes, this is a great opportunity for our growers, garden retailers and landscape professionals who have or develop the expertise to design gardens that offer season-long pollen and nectar sources. The NPGN is discussing simple point-of-purchase and other materials that retailers can easily adopt.”

This effort focuses on creating habitat for pollinators. It’s a critical undertaking because 80 percent of all plant species require pollination, O’Mara says. And a Cornell University study found that pollinators support $29 billion in farm income.

“This is not just an environmental nicety, it’s an economic necessity for our country,” adds O’Mara.

Laurie Adams, executive director of the Pollinator Partnership, said pollinator habitat loss occurs at an alarming rate daily.

“The need for new habitat is huge. The president has called for 7 million new acres of habitat,” she explains. “This is one of the most far-reaching citizen conservation efforts ever to support nature’s food chain, our own food supply and ultimately ecosystem balance by restoring habitat across small and large spaces. Planting for pollinators in urban, suburban and rural communities can make a difference. Any size habitat counts toward that million goal.”

The challenge website includes a map where participants register the location of their habitat.

“As experienced and new gardeners step up to this challenge, they’ll need seeds, plants and advice,” says Andrew LaVigne, president and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association.