EPA & USDA need your pollinator health recommendations by NOV 24

PROVIDE INPUT TO EPA & USDA BY NOV 24 TO PROTECT POLLINATORS AND EXPAND THE MARKET FOR NATIVE PLANTS

In June 2014, President Obama issued a memorandum referencing the pollinator crisis and directing that:

• a Pollinator Health Task Force be jointly chaired by the EPA and USDA and involve all major federal government agencies
• action plans be developed to further pollinator research, public education and public-private partnerships aimed at stopping pollinator loss and restoring pollinator habitat
• federal agencies immediately begin incorporating pollinator-friendly practices on their properties, including the planting of native plants.

EPA and USDA have held “listening sessions” to solicit stakeholder input on the Pollinator Health Task Force’s development of a federal strategy to promote the health of honeybees and other pollinators including native bees, butterflies, birds and bats. FANN listened in on one session and it was a steady stream of (1) beekeepers stating that neonicotinoid pesticides (“neonics”) are killing bees, (2) farmers saying they need neonics, (3) industry associations defending neonics and suggesting focus on other topics and (4) conservationists calling for the use of pollinator-friendly best practices such as using native plants in the landscape. Feedback from the listening sessions will play a role in the Task Force efforts to develop a federal strategy to reverse pollinator losses and help restore pollinator populations to healthy levels.

YOU can speak for our native plant industry, plants, and pollinators, using this official online commenting portal:
at www.Regulations.gov
Cite EPA docket number EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0806

Two easy ways to support pollinators are to (1) preserve and restore native vegetation and (2) use native plants in designed landscapes. The vast majority of designed landscapes today are devoid of native plants and created with significant use of pesticides during both the plant production phase (in nursery) and in the landscape maintenance phase. Most native plants are grown without significant use of pesticides, particularly controversial ones such as neonicotinoids, and designed native landscapes do not need pesticides at all. The Pollinator Health Task Force is seeking input on activities in the areas of:

• Public-private partnerships
• Research
• Educational opportunities
• Pollinator habitat improvements
• Pesticide risk mitigation
• Best Management Practices
• Other actions that could be part of the strategy

Here are a few ideas:
1) large-scale public education programs aimed at industry and consumers, promoting the use of pollinator-friendly native plants in urban landscapes, including the development of demonstration landscapes
2) significant research into large-scale commercially viable production of native plants that support pollinators (existing Farm Bill specialty crop funding could be directed to this need)
3) pollinator habitat improvement programs that focus on preservation of native vegetation and use of native plants in a variety of landscape types, including agricultural and urban/ornamental
4) public-private partnerships to expand the production of native plants for use in both designed (ornamental) and restoration landscapes.
5) incentives for government agencies and private developers to use native plants in urban landscaping to promote pollinator habitat

You probably have more ideas. Be sure to comment by Nov. 24 and recommend the expanded preservation and use of NATIVE PLANTS!