[Pollinator] Conserving honey bees does not help wildlife

Fri Feb 23 09:59:32 PST 2018

The NRCS does have a program to help pollinators.  I’ve forgotten the
details, but anyone who’s interested might check their programs.  They are
connected with the Resource Conservation District which can also be very
helpful.

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/national/home/ 

Go to programs/financial assistance

NRCS Conservation Programs

NRCS's natural resources conservation programs help people reduce soil
erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife
habitat, and reduce damages caused by floods and other natural disasters.

Funding Opportunities Available From NRCS Programs

NRCS provides
<https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/programs/?&cid=st
elprdb1048817> funding opportunities for agricultural producers and other
landowners through these programs.

Best,

Georgia

From: Pollinator
[mailto:pollinator-bounces+georgia.goldfarb=healthequality.net at lists.sonic.n
et] On Behalf Of Maraiah Russell
Sent: Friday, February 23, 2018 07:14 AM
To: Shannon Westlake <smw750 at msstate.edu>
Cc: pollinator at coevolution.org
Subject: Re: [Pollinator] Conserving honey bees does not help wildlife

Thanks for all the replies, these are exactly the points of view that I am
curious about.  On my comment about the wildflower strips, I don't have any
data to back that up, but just a general idea that unless it will benefit
them directly most farmers would not decrease the amount of land in
production.  If you had to explain it was for native pollinators and not the
honeybees they rent to pollinate their crops, I am doubtful that it would
have happened. The same with decreasing chemicals.  I know it's not the only
measure that needs to be taken to help pollinators, but it's a step in the
right direction and will help all creatures in that area as a result. Much
more needs to be done, but you need to start somewhere.  And if you can
start that conversation with something they are familiar with and care
about, you will get farther in your goals.  

I am a member of our local beekeeping club, and give a couple of beginning
beekeeping classes at our community center.  I started giving these, even
though I'm not an expert (backyard beekeeper), because I want everyone to
know how difficult it is to keep bees today and all of the work that must go
into keeping healthy bees. I also stress that keeping a hive is not any way
to help the bees, and planting native forage is what you should do if all
you want is to "help bees".  In this age of youtube education, many people
will just start a hive with no instruction and have no idea what they are
getting into.  They are also reluctant to take constructive criticism once
they've convinced themselves they can learn on their own.  So, we try to
catch them early, before buying any equipment and explain all of the disease
monitoring that goes into it.  

I also host a pollinator plant sale "Blooms for bees" to encourage the
planting of native plants in yards and gardens. Our message there is to
support all pollinators. 

I wonder how to change the messaging then, or if it needs to be changed.  It
seems a hard thing to go back now and say forget what was said about
honeybees, worry about native bees.  I've been thinking a lot about the
almond crop lately, and think maybe the message about the horrible herd
management of honeybees there would do more for all pollinators.  Maybe if
everyone would chill out on buying almond everything, we wouldn't ship 75%
of commercial hives there to share their diseases/pests.  

Thanks again for all the feedback.  I think these conversations between the
scientific community, beekeeping community, and the public need to continue.
I'm open to more comments, and welcome anything you would like the
beekeeping world to know.  I am often the one piping up at our meetings
about tough topics, so give me your suggestions:) 

Maraiah

  _____  

From: Shannon Westlake [smw750 at msstate.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2018 10:59 AM
To: Maraiah Russell
Cc: David Inouye; pollinator at coevolution.org
<mailto:pollinator at coevolution.org> 
Subject: Re: [Pollinator] Conserving honey bees does not help wildlife

You make a great point, Maraiah; I do not think this is an "either / or"
situation, but an "and."  Helping honeybees with their plights will be
beneficial to minimize risk of disease spread to native pollinators, but
that is not the only issue when these two mix.  I am sure we are all
familiar with the issues presented by competition from nonnative species,
which has been the growing concern in recent articles.  This is why, more
than ever, it is important to make sure the public is aware of the
differences between and importance of both honeybees and native pollinators.

The issue I have seen firsthand is farmers thinking they are benefiting all
pollinators and doing all they can by simply not spraying near honeybee nest
boxes.  Although a flagship species can be extremely beneficial to raise
awareness and support, continued education surrounding the additional
species affected (in this case, native pollinators) is essential to properly
inform landowners to promote the most beneficial conservation practices.
For future food security, biodiversity, and environmental amelioration, we
need to move forward with the "and" in mind; improving honeybee health and
also providing the necessary attention and support for our native
pollinators.

On Wed, Feb 21, 2018 at 8:10 AM, Maraiah Russell
<maraiah.russell at kidszoo.org <mailto:maraiah.russell at kidszoo.org> > wrote:

So, to stir the pot a bit, wouldn't healthier honeybees be good as they
wouldn't spread disease to wild bees?  And the efforts being put forth by
farmers to include wildflower strips on their land, that wouldn't have
happened without the threat to honeybees, but should also benefit wild
bees/pollinators.  I just think that we can't possibly help one pollinator
species without helping all.  I understand the messaging to the public is
wrong, but what the public really cares about is access to the variety of
food they want.  Monocrops aren't going to disappear anytime soon, and
honeybees are needed to maintain those.  It's not an idea situation, but if
we take measures to support honeybees I think it will only support native
pollinators as well.  I'd love to hear discussion...

Maraiah Russell
________________________________________
From: Pollinator
[pollinator-bounces+maraiah.russell=kidszoo.org at lists.sonic.net
<mailto:kidszoo.org at lists.sonic.net> ] on behalf of David Inouye
[dwinouye at gmail.com <mailto:dwinouye at gmail.com> ]
Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2018 12:04 AM
To: pollinator at coevolution.org <mailto:pollinator at coevolution.org> 
Subject: [Pollinator] Conserving honey bees does not help wildlife

I can send a PDF if you want one.

Geldmann, J. and J. P. González-Varo (2018). "Conserving honey bees does
not help wildlife." Science 359(6374): 392-393.

David

--
Dr. David W. Inouye
Professor Emeritus
Department of Biology
University of Maryland

Principal Investigator
Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory

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-- 

_________________________

Shannon M. Westlake

Graduate Research Assistant, Lab Coordinator

Human Dimensions Laboratory

Wildlife, Fisheries & Aquaculture

Mississippi State University

smw750 at msstate.edu <mailto:smw750 at msstate.edu>  

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
-Eleanor Roosevelt

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