Supporting pollinator conservation and education is
important to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service)
because we are entrusted to protect certain pollinators
and plants that rely on animal pollination. Additionally,
pollinator conservation and education are critical
components of the Service priorities.
National Wildlife Refuge System: Conserving our lands and
resources.
One of the mandates of the Refuge System Improvement
Act is to ensure that the biological integrity, diversity,
and environmental health of the system are maintained.
Pollinators are vital to the ecological integrity of
ecosystems and serve as indicators of environmental
conditions. Therefore, fulfi lling our statutory mandate
requires that we recognize and incorporate the needs of
pollinators into planning and management of refuges.
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving recovery and
preventing extinction.
At least 34 animals federally listed as endangered
or threatened play a role in pollination. Currently,
713 species of fl owering plants are federally listed
as endangered or threatened. While we do not fully
understand their pollinator relationships, more than
75 percent of all fl owering plants are animal pollinated.
Recovery may depend on ensuring the health of their
pollinator partners because of the critical role these
animals play in fl owering plant reproduction. The Service
is also responsible for wildlife trade control for several
pollinators that are internationally traded, including
certain bats, butterfl ies and hummingbirds.
Migratory Birds: Conservation and management.
Among the migratory birds that the Service is
responsible for protecting, hummingbirds are well-known
pollinators. Furthermore, many migratory birds feed on
fruits, berries and seeds that come from animal pollinated
plants.
Connecting People with Nature: Ensuring the future of
conservation.
Pollinators capture the interest of the public, especially
children, because many are attractive and familiar,
particularly those found in suburban backyards and
urban gardens. They are vitally important to the human
food supply, with estimates that pollinators contribute
to one in every three bites of food we eat. Promoting an
interest in pollinators helps connect people with nature. A
greater understanding of pollinators, their plant partners,
and the importance of healthy habitats to their survival
increases the public’s appreciation for the resources the
Service is responsible for conserving.
Landscape Conservation: Working with others.
Habitat loss is believed to be responsible for the decline
of many pollinators. To address these and other threats
to pollinators, the Service partners with the North
American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC).
NAPPC is an international collaboration of people
from over 100 private, government, university and
nonprofi t organizations working together to encourage
the health of resident and migratory pollinating animals
in North America. The Service has a Memorandum
of Understanding with the Coevolution Institute, the
nonprofi t administrator of NAPPC. NAPPC task forces
and partners prepare many tools (e.g., posters, fact
sheets, brochures, activities) that the Service can use in
education and outreach programs.
Who is the Service Pollinator Work Group?
The Service Pollinator Work Group is a cross-programmatic
group of designated staff who work to
integrate pollinator conservation into Service activities
using existing authorities. Some examples include:
◆ Make education and outreach materials about
pollinators available.
◆Promote use of pollinator-friendly native plants in
habitat restoration plantings.
◆Work with others to protect migration corridors used by
migratory pollinators, such as bats and hummingbirds.
◆Provide expertise on power line and wind tower
placements to minimize impacts to pollinators.
◆Advocate for reduced pesticide use by using an
integrated pest management approach.
For more information, please contact:
Dolores Savignano, Division of Environmental Quality
Telephone: 703/358-2148
http://www.fws.gov/pollinators/
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Pollinator Conservation and Education
Leopoldo Miranda/USFWS
