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<H1>Bee habitats proposed for Berkeley parks</H1></DIV>
<P class=byline><A href="mailto:carolynjones@sfchronicle.com"><FONT
color=#015660>Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer</FONT></A></P>
<P class=date>Monday, March 23, 2009</P></DIV><!-- end types/article/articletools.tmpl -->
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<P>If you thought Berkeley was buzzing with eco-activity before, just wait
until Tuesday.</P>
<P>The City Council is poised to transform all the city's parks and open
spaces into habitats for <STRONG>bees</STRONG>. If the council approves
the resolution, all future landscaping would be "pollinator-friendly"
flowering native plants intended to attract <STRONG>bees</STRONG>, bats,
butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, beetles and flies.</P></DIV></DIV>
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<P>"I think it's fantastic. This is exactly what we're trying to promote,"
said Jaime Pawelek, a researcher in urban bee ecology at UC Berkeley's
Department of Environmental Science Policy and Management. "The Bay Area
is a leader in the environmental movement - hopefully the rest of the
country will follow this."</P>
<P>But those who like to eat at the parks or roll in the grass, such as
young kids, aren't so sure. After all, more <STRONG>bees</STRONG> means
more bee stings.</P>
<P>"Maybe they could put the <STRONG>bees</STRONG> in parks where kids
never go," said Charles Cobb, who was playing with his two children at
Codornices Park last week. "It seems like a good idea, but I'd worry about
having them too close."</P>
<P>The city's proposing that the bee landscaping be planted at least 30
feet from children's play areas, barbecues, garbage cans and picnic
tables. Staff would also post signs in the parks explaining the importance
of bee habitats.</P>
<P>"Thirty feet is not enough," said Kristen Burmester, who was at
Codornices Park with her two youngsters. "If you had a kid who was
allergic to <STRONG>bees</STRONG>, it would cut out all parks. And I
wonder about population control."</P>
<P>City officials proposed the idea about six months ago, after reading
news reports about the global decline of pollinators, particularly
<STRONG>bees</STRONG>. Pollinators are essential for plant reproduction,
especially food sources such as fruit and nut trees, berries and many
vegetables.</P>
<P>Pesticides and habitat reduction are the main culprits behind the
<STRONG>bees</STRONG>' decline, Pawelek said. But an increase in native
flowering plants would be a big help for <STRONG>bees</STRONG> and other
pollinators.</P>
<P>"It's extremely important, if we ever want to eat an apple or pear
again," she said. "If we lose <STRONG>bees</STRONG>, we'll just be eating
rice and corn, which are wind pollinated."</P>
<P>Park users should not worry about stumbling across a hive and being
attacked by a swarm of irate <STRONG>bees</STRONG>, she said. Most native
<STRONG>bees</STRONG> live alone in the ground or hollow tree trunks, and
only the females can sting.</P>
<P>Furthermore, they're more likely to fly away or simply buzz loudly if
they're irritated. Stinging is not their first choice, she said.</P>
<P>"They're actually afraid of us," she said. "I've been handling
<STRONG>bees</STRONG> for years and never been stung."</P>
<P>Former City Councilwoman Betty Olds was among those who first
championed municipal bee advocacy. A former bee keeper, she said she was
concerned about the species' decline and wanted to help.</P>
<P>Mayor Tom Bates was also an early supporter.</P>
<P>"I read about the <STRONG>bees</STRONG> declining and thought, 'This is
terrible. What can we do?' " he said. "Making our parks
pollinator-friendly is totally possible and economically feasible, and a
good way to help <STRONG>bees</STRONG> in our city."</P>
<P>The landscaping plan will not cost any more than the city's regular
landscaping budget, according to city staff.</P>
<P>Lars Henri, who was with his 3-year-old at Codornices Park, said he
loved the idea.</P>
<P>"Bring on the <STRONG>bees</STRONG>," he said. "Definitely more people
will get stung. <STRONG>Bees</STRONG> are vital to the world, and we need
them."</P>
<P></P>
<P></P>
<P></P>
<DIV class=infobox>
<H3>Bee resolution </H3>
<P>The City Council is scheduled to vote on the bee resolution at its
meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Old City Hall, 2134 Martin Luther King Way,
Berkeley.</P>
<P>For more information, go to <A href="http://links.sfgate.com/ZGND"
target=_BLANK><FONT color=#015660>links.sfgate.com/ZGND</FONT></A> or</P>
<P><A href="http://nature.berkeley.edu/urbanbeegardens"><FONT
color=#015660>nature.berkeley.edu/urbanbeegardens</FONT></A></P></DIV>
<P class=dtlcomment>E-mail Carolyn Jones at <A
href="mailto:carolynjones@sfchronicle.com"><FONT
color=#015660>carolynjones@sfchronicle</FONT></A></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT lang=0 face="Gill Sans MT" size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>Laurie Davies Adams<BR>Executive
Director<BR><B>Pollinator Partnership </B><BR>423 Washington Street, 5th
floor<BR>San Francisco, CA
94111<BR>415-362-1137<BR>LDA@pollinator.org</FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial
color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0
face="Gill Sans MT" color=#0000ff size=4 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="14"><B><A
href="http://www.pollinator.org/">www.pollinator.org</A></B></FONT><FONT lang=0
face="Gill Sans MT" color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"></B><BR><A
href="http://www.nappc.org/">www.nappc.org</A><BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0
face="Gill Sans MT" color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="12"><B><I>National Pollinator Week is June 22-28, 2009. <BR>Beecome
involved at <A
href="http://www.pollinator.org/">www.pollinator.org</A></I></FONT></B></DIV></FONT><br/><font style="color:black;font:normal 10pt arial,san-serif;"> <hr style="margin-top:10px"/><b>A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. <a href="http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1219858252x1201366219/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID%3D62%26bcd%3DMarchfooterNO62"> See yours in just 2 easy steps!</a></b></font></DIV></BODY></HTML>