The Student Journalist Chronicle
Auburn, Alabama
Vol. 1, Issue 1
Pollinator Protection Programs
December 8, 2020
By Katie Carroll
Cities around the United States are implementing various ways to protect pollinators because of their economic and ecological benefits.
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Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States is experiencing a food shortage. According to an NPR article, food insecurity has more than doubled since 2019 as a result of the virus.
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When considering this food shortage, it is important to recognize a key player in the production of food- the pollinator. According to Bee City USA, one in three bites of food consumed is courtesy of insect pollination.
There are a wide variety of pollinators, including butterflies (Photo Credit/ Katie Carroll)
With insect pollinators being such a large factor in food production, their decline has gained recognition. A Greenpeace article said that one of the most well-known pollinators, honey bees, have declined 60% from having 6 million hives in 1947 to 2.4 million hives in 2008.
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According to Brad Stokes, entomologist, Mountain Home City Councilman, the University of Idaho Extension Educator and County Chair for Elmore County, many entomologists referred to 2019 as an “insect apocalypse” because there was a decrease in a wide variety of insect pollinators. Pollinators consist of not only bees but also bats, butterflies and flies. Stokes said that there are thousands of insect pollinators in North America.
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A large factor in the decline of pollinators is the use of pesticides. Pesticides, among other things, can lead to what is known as Colony Collapse Disorder. According to an Environmental Protection Agency article, CCD happens when worker bees abandon a hive, leaving the queen and nurse bees. Without worker bees, a hive will eventually die.
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Marcus Silvey of Ballplay, Alabama, has been a beekeeper for three years and currently cares for 72 hives. Silvey said that in his area cotton is the main crop. Large cash crops, like cotton, are often sprayed with pesticides and insecticides. Silvey tries to keep his beehives many miles away from cotton fields so the insecticides won't harm them.
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“I would say the number one reason why the bees are dying is from all the pesticides and insecticides to keep [bugs] from ruining crops, but it also kills the bees that actually help it,” said Silvey.
The Xerces Society, a nonprofit organization that focuses on the conservation of invertebrates, was founded in 1971. In 2012, the Xerces Society partnered with a small, independent project called Bee City USA. Bee City USA interacts with local governing bodies across the United States to help them create pollinator conscious communities.
According to the Bee City USA website, cities and towns that want to become an affiliate with Bee City USA must apply. In order to be approved, towns and cities must commit to establishing a local Bee City USA committee to advocate for pollinators, enhance the number of native wildflowers and nest sites, reduce the use of pesticides, host pollinator awareness events, publicly acknowledge Bee City USA affiliation, pay an annual renewal fee and create a report of the previous years' activities. There are currently 124 certified Bee City USA cities.
All the Certified Bee City USA Cities in America. Information courtesy of beecityusa.org
One Bee City USA affiliate is the City of Mountain Home in Elmore County, Idaho. In 2018, the Mountain Home City Council passed a resolution to be an official Bee City USA affiliate. Mountain Home is also a Monarch City USA affiliate. Stokes said that Mountain Home has started a pollinator appreciation day and arbor event. At these events, the community has access to trees, wildflower seeds and milkweed seeds to plant as a food source for the local pollinator population. Stokes said that the community has responded positively to the cities efforts to protect pollinators and these events are well attended by local residents.
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“ I think the planting of these trees and wildflowers as well as the community education about [pollinators] is vitally important,” said Stokes.
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Stokes said that Mountain Home as a city refrains from buying plants that have been sprayed with neonicotinoids or using the insecticide. This insecticide can absorb into the plant, and according to a Xerces Society article, kills bees by impacting their ability to forage for food.
Outside of organizations like Bee City USA, some local governments are starting their own programs in an effort to help pollinators.
Auburn, Alabama, is not a Bee City USA affiliate but is still striving to support local pollinators. This year, Auburn’s Public Works Department began the Wildflower Program. This program plants native wildflowers on public land across the city in order to support the pollinator population. According to Anne Randle, the City of Auburn’s Urban Forestry Specialist, the mix of flowers was specifically chosen because they bloom throughout most of the year. The longevity of the flower mix offers pollinators a consistent food source even during seasonal changes.
Community gardens like this one provide food sources for pollinators throughout the year. (Photo Credit/ Katie Carroll)
According to assistant professor in Auburn University’s Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Geoff Williams, providing pollinators with a native food source is essential for their survival. Pollinators use flowers’ nectar and pollen as sources of carbohydrates and proteins.
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Auburn, Alabama, and Mountain Home, Idaho, place such significance on pollinators in large part because they are agricultural communities. Farming towns across the United States rely on pollinators for large crop output. According to a 2019 Forbes article, between $235 and $577 billion of annual food production is due to pollinators.
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Brent Halderman, farm manager of The Farm at Windy Hill in Mentone, Alabama, said, “Some of the crops that we grow on the largest scale really need pollinators like strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes, squash and cucumbers.”
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Halderman said that in the Lookout Mountain area where Windy Hill is located, there is a healthy pollinator population. Lookout Mountain Tennessee and Georgia are affiliates of Bee City USA, and as a result, have limited the use of pesticides in the area.
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“I think we are fortunate here in Mentone that there are people who are supporting pollinators, but there also is not the type of agriculture that would put [pollinators] under stress,” Halderman said.
A worker at The Farm at Windy Hill harvesting crops, many of which had to be pollinated. (Photo Credit/ Katie Carroll)
Some farmers who are not in areas with healthy pollinator populations rent hives from beekeepers during the farming season. Silvey said that he rents a number of bee colonies to farmers with crops that are hugely dependent on pollination. Silvey said that he began providing a Georgia peach farmer with bees three years ago. Silvey said that the farmer went from producing around 50 tons of peaches to 70 or 80 tons.
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“I’d like to quote the famous Alber Einstein,” said Silvey, “If the bee population were to collapse overnight, human beings would have merely four years left to survive on earth.”