Tomorrow kicks off National Pollinator Week and here at the Organic Forecast we love celebrating pollinators! Without all their industrious work, our gardens and yards would not be the same. There are over 200,000 species of animals and insects that act as pollinators and about 80% of all flowering plants rely on them. This makes their importance to natural ecosystems and agriculture undeniable, however the populations of bats, beetles, bees and butterflies have been declining around the world due to habitat loss, disease, parasites and environmental contaminants.
To bring awareness to these issues and the importance of protecting pollinators we are happy to announce that Utah State University Extension is hosting a press event for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) and the Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) at the USU Extension Demonstration Teaching Garden at Wheeler Farm tomorrow
Monday, June 20th, 2016 at 11:30 AM
The event will highlight Governor Herbert’s declaration of Utah’s pollinator week as June 20-26, 2016.
Participating agencies will present bee education resources for Utah citizens. In addition, the NRCS will promote funding assistance available to landowners who desire to enrich and/or increase pollinator habitat on large and small landholdings. The event is FREE and open to the public.
A Brief History of Pollinator Week
“Pollinator Week was initiated and is managed by the Pollinator Partnership. Eight years ago the U.S. Senate’s unanimous approval and designation of a week in June as “National Pollinator Week” marked a necessary step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations. Pollinator Week has now grown to be an international celebration of the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles. The growing concern for pollinators is a sign of progress, but it is vital that we continue to maximize our collective effort. The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture signs the proclamation every year.” (taken from pollinator.org)
For more information on what you can do to help protect pollinators visit the Pollinator Partnership website or check out our recent blog post on attracting pollinators to your yard!
Coincidentally this week’s Horticulture Spotlight Lecture at Red Butte Garden will also touch on the subject. Guest speaker Joey Caputo will discuss “Promoting Managed Pollinator Health Along the Wasatch Front” from 6:30-7:30 PM. Lectures are FREE, but we ask you please register online at https://horticulture-spotlight-june-2016.eventbrite.com
Lastly, you can also follow us on Facebook to see daily fun facts about pollinators all week long!
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