Research has shown significant declines in native pollinator population sizes and ranges globally. In fact, up to 40% of pollinator species on earth may be at risk of extinction in the coming years as a result of habitat loss, the use of harmful pesticides, and climate change.
Are you interested in working with your community to reverse these declines and support our (in)valuable pollinators? Thinking globally and acting locally, Bee City USA provides a framework for communities to come together to conserve native pollinators by providing them with healthy habitat that is rich in a variety of native plants, provides nest sites, and is protected from pesticides.
As the name suggests, the focus of Bee City USA is bees, and primarily our native species. The steps that affiliates take to conserve our native bees, including creating safe habitats and hosting community events, will also help butterflies and moths as well as the nonnative honey bee. One of the most impactful actions any affiliate can take is to encourage others to think beyond the honey bee and recognize the true diversity of bees that sustain our communities.
Joining the cities and campuses across the country rallying to protect pollinators is a great way to bring your community together to create positive change!
Cities and towns that are incorporated municipalities can work to reverse pollinator declines in their communities by becoming affiliates of Bee City USA. Bee City USA’s sister initiative, Bee Campus USA, works with institutions of higher education, including colleges and universities. See below for more details on each of these designations!
If you don’t fit into one of these categories but would like to commit to conserve native pollinators, the Xerces Society’s Bring Back the Pollinators campaign and its Pollinator Protection Pledge might be a good choice for you. Signing the pledge means making a commitment to growing pollinator-friendly flowers, providing nest sites, avoiding pesticides, and spreading the word. With these core values, pollinator conservation can be adapted to any location, whether you tend an urban community garden or a suburban yard, or work in a city park or on a farm.
- Ensure survival of vital animal species: Help to ensure the survival of vital animal species crucial to our planet’s functioning ecosystems.
- Build community locally and nationally: Bring your community together around a positive, shared cause and connect with communities across the country that have made the same commitment.
- Improve local food production: Raise community awareness of how our food grows and improve local food production through expanded pollination.
- Support small businesses: Support the growth of local businesses including native plant nurseries and pollinator-friendly landscaping.
- Address pest problems with fewer pesticides: Raise community awareness of the least toxic ways to tackle home and garden pest problems. Mobilize your community to remove nonnative invasive plants to make way for locally native plants.
- Heighten awareness of biological diversity: Raise community awareness of the local environment’s diversity of plant and pollinator species.
Bee City USA Commitments:
- Establish a standing Bee City USA committee to advocate for pollinators.
- Create and enhance pollinator habitat on public and private land by increasing the abundance of native plants, ensuring nest sites, and reducing the use of pesticides.
- Incorporate pollinator-conscious practices into city policies and plans.
- Host pollinator awareness events.
- Publicly acknowledge Bee City USA affiliation with signs and with an online presence.
- Pay an initial application fee and then the annual renewal fee.
- Annually apply for renewal and report on the previous year’s activities.
- Form a Bee City USA Committee.
- Complete an online application.
- Have your city council adopt the Bee City USA resolution (following our template) and receive the approval of the highest elected official.
- Pay the application fee, which is scaled to your population.
Bee Campus USA Commitments:
- Establish a standing Bee Campus USA committee to advocate for pollinators.
- Create and enhance pollinator habitat on campus through increasing the abundance of native plants, ensuring nest sites, and reducing the use of pesticides.
- Offer courses or continuing education opportunities that incorporate pollinator conservation.
- Offer service-learning projects to enhance pollinator habitat.
- Display signage focused on pollinator conservation.
- Maintain an online presence for your Bee Campus USA activities.
- Pay an initial application fee and annual renewal fee.
- Annually apply for renewal and report on the previous year’s activities.
- Form a Bee Campus USA committee.
- Complete an online application.
- Receive approval of your president or chancellor.
- Pay the application fee (scaled to student enrollment).
