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House Passes Resolution Designating June 17-23 As Pollinator Week In PA

On June 12, the House unanimously passed House Resolution 385 (Matzie-D-Allegheny) designating the week of June 17 to 23 as Pollinator Week in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary).

“It’s been said that bees are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat,” said Rep. Rob Matzie, prime sponsor. “That’s not surprising considering the vital role they play in maintaining natural plant communities and ensuring production of seeds in flowering plants. In fact, pollinators serve more than 180,000 different plant species and more than 1,200 crops, adding $217 billion to the global economy.

“Unfortunately, honeybee colonies are declining as a result of pesticides, parasites and other factors, and their decreasing population could gravely impact our food supply. It’s my hope that this resolution will help raise awareness about the all-important role bees and other pollinators play so we can work toward better protecting them.”

Pollinators also promote healthy ecosystems that clean the air, stabilize the soil, protect crops from severe weather and support other wildlife.

In addition to the work of Pollinator Partnership, Rep. Matzie’s resolution recognizes the efforts of the Pennsylvania Beekeepers Association, the state Department of Agriculture, the Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension and Delaware Valley College for their collective work on processes that promote pollination and beekeeping.

To learn more about threats to pollinators and steps being taken to protect them, visit Penn State’s Pennsylvania Pollinator Protection Plan webpage.

NewsClips:

Bay Journal: Plants & Pollinators: Can’t Have One Without The Other

Pitt Students Act To Build Some Buzz For Native Bees

Related Article This Week:

Non-Native, Invasive Plant Species Are Ecologically Castrating The Landscape In PA, But There Is A Solution

Pollinator/Native Plant Resources

There are lots of resources available to help property owners landscape with native plants, and now is the best time to start planning for Spring projects. Here are just a few of the resources available--

-- DCNR Landscaping With Native Plants

-- Game Commission: Common Beneficial Plants Found In Wildlife Habitat

-- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Native Plants For Wildlife Habitat And Conservation Landscaping

-- Chesapeake Bay Sustainable Landscape Professional Directory

-- Brandywine Conservancy: Forested Riparian Buffer Planting Guide

-- Audubon PA: Bird Habitat Recognition Program

-- National Audubon: Native Plants Database

-- Xerces Society For Invertebrate Conservation

-- Gardening For Butterflies: Penn State Extension

-- Planting For Pollinators: Penn State Extension

-- Center For Pollinator Research, Penn State

-- Pennsylvania Pollinator Protection Plan - Learn Why Pollinators Are At Risk In PA