Pollinator Stewardship & Your Special District. John Swayze Swingle Lawn, Tree & Landscape Care

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1 Pollinator Stewardship & Your Special District John Swayze Swingle Lawn, Tree & Landscape Care

2 Why do we need to worry about pollinators? Impact on our economy and food security 1 in 3 bites of food we consume is directly related to pollination 2015 estimates place the direct impact of pollination on the US economy around $25 Billion Protection of our natural world Colorado has one of the most diverse sets of ecosystems of any state 946 species of native bees in Colorado 250 species of butterflies 1000 species of moths 11 species of hummingbirds Countless species of wasps, beetles, ants, flies etc

3 Why do we need to worry about pollinators? Public Relations As officials, special districts and industry leaders we have a responsibility to set an example and standard that others look to and follow The media is very keen on the impact of pollinator stories and will use that impact whether it is good for you or bad for you Make a big deal out of the good things you are doing Relatively small changes and adjustments to your actions can have a cascade effect far beyond your direct sphere of influence by encouraging others to follow your example

4 What can you do to help? You don t need to become a beekeeper The first step that many people want to take is to install honeybee hives This can be very costly Hives require a large amount of time and maintenance to keep them healthy The European Honey Bee is not a native species and there are plenty of people working to maintain the hive numbers Native pollinators are often better at the job and are far more threatened than honeybees Each mason bee can do the pollination work of 100 honeybees Following the next steps will give help not only to honeybees but also for all our native pollinators

5 Take steps to protect pollinators in your special district Use pesticides responsibly Phase out plant species that require intensive pesticide treatments (this includes turf) Evaluate your threshold for treatment Is the treatment required to maintain the health of the plant or cosmetic Is there a natural control that your applications are preventing from working Evaluate the products and methods of application that you re using Is there a less toxic product or method of applying the product that creates less hazard to pollinators Follow all product labels and bee box restrictions Make applications at the correct times of day and year The label is the law

6 Take steps to protect pollinators in your special district Ensure all contractors are following the rules In 2013 an applicator in Wilsonville Oregon sprayed Linden trees that were in full bloom in a parking lot to eliminate honeydew drip onto the cars in the lot The application was completed when pollinators were not visiting the area Thousands of bumble bees visiting the trees during the following day were killed The trees had to be covered in netting to prevent more bees from being exposed This application was ordered by the property management company and was completed by a contracted application company not by the company blamed by the media for this event

7 Don t let this be the kind of press you receive Every article I was able to find about this incident made sure to announce that this was in a Target parking lot and there was no mention of the management company name or the company that completed the application

8 Provide forage for pollinators Plant species that bloom at different times throughout the year Some pollinator species are very non-specific and are active for a long season feeding on multiple species of plants Many of the native species here time their lifecycles to match the plants they require Remove pollinator deserts when possible Plant forage species in parking strips, empty mulch/rock beds, embankments Replace turf with forage plants No benefit to pollinators Requires applications of herbicide to control other species Requires applications of fertilizer Requires constant mowing to maintain the ideal Requires large amounts of water

9 Provide forage for pollinators In June 2017 the Colorado legislature designated I-76 as a pollinator corridor providing 4.3 square miles of pollinator habitat stretching from Denver to Nebraska If C-DOT allowed 60 feet along the side of 40% of their highways that would provide 83 square miles of pollinator habitat throughout the state, about half the size of the Denver metro area The same area designated over the entire state highway system in Colorado would provide an area equal to 207 square miles or 17% of Rhode Island What kind of impact can your district have?

10 Provide forage for pollinators

11 Steps to Becoming a Pollinator Steward Provide forage for pollinators

12 Provide forage for pollinators

13 Provide forage for pollinators

14 Provide forage for pollinators

15 Provide forage for pollinators

16 Steps to Becoming a Pollinator Steward Provide forage for pollinators

17 Bees and Public Safety Is it safe to attract all these bees?

18 Provide habitat for pollinators Most of the native bee species in Colorado nest underground Leave areas of exposed soil that will not be disturbed year over year and do not flood This also allows predatory beetle species to survive overwinter that will help control some pest species Install native bee houses Several species nest in open tubes that are found in wood or canes These houses are very visual, fun for people to watch and a great way to draw attention to your efforts Let leaf cutter bees harvest what they need from your plants

19 Provide habitat for pollinators

20 Provide habitat for pollinators

21 Provide water for pollinators Many pollinators need a consistent supply of water Honeybees use the water to cool the hive and dilute honey before eating it Several native species use water in the construction of their nests Certain species of butterfly will drink from shallow pools that have minerals leached into them from the soil Providing a clean safe source of water for pollinators prevents exposure to pesticides in contaminated water and helps keep them away from pools and dog dishes

22 Provide water for pollinators

23 Capitalize on Your Efforts Use the media to you advantage If you are making visible changes invite them to make a story Use social media to spread news about what steps you re taking Post blogs, pictures etc detailing your efforts to help pollinators Frequent blurbs about smaller projects get more attention than one time reports about the entire change Make sure your residents and customers know what you ve done so they can take pride along with you

24 Resources for Your Next Steps Pollinator Partnership The Xerces Society Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Colorado State Beekeepers Association Crown Bees

25 Becoming a Pollinator Steward Questions?