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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>For Immediate Release<i><span
style='font-style:italic'><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='margin-left:3.0in;text-align:right;
text-indent:.5in'><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Tom Van Arsdall <a href="mailto:tva@pollinator.org">tva@pollinator.org</a>
t: 703 509 4746<b><span style='font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='margin-left:1.0in;text-align:right;
text-indent:.5in'><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Kelly Rourke <a href="mailto:kr@pollinator.org">kr@pollinator.org</a>
</span></font><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:line id="_x0000_s1027" style='position:absolute;
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size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial'>t:
415.362.1137</span></font><b><font size=6 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
24.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><br>
<br>
</span></font></b><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:7.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Agriculture, pollinator health, and culture key issues at
2013 North American Pollinator Protection Campaign Conference</span></font><font
size=4 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyTextIndent2 align=left style='margin-left:0in;text-align:left'><b><font
size=2 face="Franklin Gothic Book"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Franklin Gothic Book";font-variant:small-caps;font-weight:bold'>Tuesday
October 21, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoBodyTextIndent2 align=left style='margin-left:0in;text-align:left'><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><b><font size=2 face="Franklin Gothic Book"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Book";font-variant:small-caps;
font-weight:bold'>Washington</span></font></b></st1:City><b><font size=2
face="Franklin Gothic Book"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Book";
font-variant:small-caps;font-weight:bold'>, <st1:State w:st="on">D.C.</st1:State></span></font></b></st1:place><b><font
size=2 face="Franklin Gothic Book"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Franklin Gothic Book";font-variant:small-caps;font-weight:bold'> - </span></font></b><font
size=2 face="Franklin Gothic Book"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Franklin Gothic Book"'>Strategic actions to stem pollinator declines and sustain
our future were planned this week during brainstorming and technology transfer session
between leading pollinator scientists and other stakeholders at the 13<sup>th</sup>
Annual North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) International
Conference. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyTextIndent2 align=left style='margin-left:0in;text-align:left'><font
size=2 face="Franklin Gothic Book"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Franklin Gothic Book"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyTextIndent2 align=left style='margin-left:0in;text-align:left'><font
size=2 face="Franklin Gothic Book"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Franklin Gothic Book"'>Birds, bats, bees, butterflies, beetles, and other
small mammals that pollinate plants are responsible for bringing us one out of
every three bites of food. They also sustain our ecosystems and produce our
natural resources by helping plants reproduce. Unfortunately, they are in
trouble. Some species have seen a <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>90% decline</span></b>
in their populations over the last decade. Without the actions of pollinators agricultural
economies, our food supply and surrounding landscapes would collapse. We would
also lose the cultural enrichment that our natural native landscapes provide.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyTextIndent2 align=left style='margin-left:0in;text-align:left'><font
size=2 face="Franklin Gothic Book"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Franklin Gothic Book"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyTextIndent2 align=left style='margin-left:0in;text-align:left'><font
size=2 face="Franklin Gothic Book"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Franklin Gothic Book"'>Scientists; regulators; governmental and industry
representatives; Native American and First Nation Tribes; and global NGOs
representing more than 140 stakeholders met October 22 and 24 in Washington D.C.
to develop action plans that address critical and current pollinator issues. The
conference was co-hosted by the Department of the Interior at the American Farm
Bureau Federation. Keynote addresses were given by renowned pollinator
scientist and author Dr. Gary Nabhan and Dan Ashe, Director of the U.S. Fish
& Wildlife Service. Counselor to the Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife
and Parks, Michael Bean spoke on the need for policy to protect pollinators and
Chief of the U.S. Forest Service Tom Tidwell provided insight into how balanced
land management can support pollinator conservation in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s forests. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyTextIndent2 align=left style='margin-left:0in;text-align:left'><font
size=2 face="Franklin Gothic Book"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Franklin Gothic Book"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyTextIndent2 align=left style='margin-left:0in;text-align:left'><font
size=2 face="Franklin Gothic Book"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Franklin Gothic Book"'>The connections between healthy pollinator communities
and food security were a top concern in this year’s meeting, especially
in light of the continued declines in honey bee health and increasing
pollination challenges faced by farmers and beekeepers. Pesticide application
and labeling and guidelines, recent bee kills, food and forage availability for
honey bees, declines in conservation habitat within agricultural landscapes,
and funding much needed research on bee nutrition and interactions between
honey bees and native bees were all highlighted in task force working groups. A
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was also signed with the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM), signifying concern for and dedication to healthy native
ecosystems that are supported by pollinators. The Pollinator Partnership looks
forward to continuing to work with BLM to create continued awareness of the
need for pollinators in natural landscapes. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyTextIndent2 align=left style='margin-left:0in;text-align:left'><font
size=2 face="Franklin Gothic Book"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Franklin Gothic Book"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyTextIndent2 align=left style='margin-left:0in;text-align:left'><font
size=2 face="Franklin Gothic Book"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Franklin Gothic Book"'>Each year NAPPC recognizes Pollinator Advocates for
their extraordinary work in awareness, habitat protection, and advocacy. A VIP
reception was held at the Organization of American States on Tuesday, October
22 to open the annual conference and features the award ceremony. Beekeepers Virginia
Webb (USA) and Roque Arroyo Rodríguez (<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place>) received honors for their
advocacy within local honey beekeeping and stingless beekeeping communities.
The Alderville First Nation (<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region></st1:place>)
was also honored for work in protecting native savanna landscapes with a bottom-up
approach that included ensuring pollinator habitat conservation. Pollinator
conservation and food security intersect in our agricultural landscapes.
Farmers <st1:City w:st="on">Bryan</st1:City> and Cathy Gilvesy of YU Ranch (<st1:country-region
w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region>) and Josiah and Valer Austin of El
Coronado Ranch and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cuenca</st1:City></st1:place>
de los Ojos (USA) received the distinguished Farmer-Rancher Advocate Award for
their unique, on-the-ground approaches to pollinator conservation and public
engagement efforts that provide living examples of suitable agrosystems. The
Paul Growald Media Award went to Filmmaker and Director Louie Schwartzberg in
honor of his inspiring motion picture “Wings of Life.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyTextIndent2 align=left style='margin-left:0in;text-align:left'><font
size=2 color=gray face="Franklin Gothic Book"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Franklin Gothic Book";color:gray'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyTextIndent2 align=center style='margin-left:0in;text-align:
center'><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Verdana'>###<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyTextIndent2 align=center style='margin-left:0in;text-align:
center'><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyTextIndent2 align=left style='margin-left:0in;text-align:left'><b><font
size=1 color=gray face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:gray;font-weight:bold'>NAPPC</span></font></b><font size=1 color=gray
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:gray'> is a
collaborative effort of over 140 organizations in the <st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region>,
and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place>
whose common goal is to promote awareness of the essential role that
pollinators play in food systems and ecosystems, and to provide the public with
simple, effective ways to engage in environmental stewardship. Management,
fiscal oversight and administration for NAPPC is provided by the Pollinator
Partnership.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyTextIndent2 align=left style='margin-left:0in;text-align:left'><font
size=1 color=gray face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:gray'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyTextIndent2 align=left style='margin-left:0in;text-align:left'><font
size=1 color=gray face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:gray'>The <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Pollinator Partnership</span></b>
is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization headquartered in San Francisco, with
offices and professional staff in Washington D.C., Louisiana, Nebraska, Iowa,
Montana, Ohio, Arizona, Washington, and Toronto, Canada. The Pollinator
Partnership is the largest organization in the world dedicated exclusively to
the protection and promotion of pollinators and their ecosystems.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyTextIndent2 align=left style='margin-left:0in;text-align:left'><font
size=1 color=gray face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:gray'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyTextIndent2 align=left style='margin-left:0in;text-align:left'><font
size=1 color=gray face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:gray'>To learn more about the NAPPC and the Pollinator Partnership visit <a
href="http://www.pollinator.org/nappc"><font color=gray><span style='color:
gray;text-decoration:none'>www.pollinator.org</span></font></a> or contact </span></font><font
size=1 color=gray face=Verdana><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:gray'><a href="mailto:info@pollinator.org"><font color=gray><span
style='color:gray'>info@pollinator.org</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=1 color=gray face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:gray'> or call 415-362-1137 for more information. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><strong><b><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica'>Victoria Wojcik, Ph.D.</span></font></b></strong><font
face=Helvetica><span style='font-family:Helvetica'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font><font face=Helvetica><span style='font-family:Helvetica'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>Research</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font size=2
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica'>Program
Manager</span></font><font face=Helvetica><span style='font-family:Helvetica'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>Pollinator Partnership</span></font><font
face=Helvetica><span style='font-family:Helvetica'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica'>423
Washington Street</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><font size=2
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica'> 5th Floor</span></font><font
face=Helvetica><span style='font-family:Helvetica'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica'>San
Francisco</span></font></st1:City><font size=2 face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica'> <st1:State w:st="on">CA</st1:State></span></font><font
size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Calibri'> </span></font><font
size=2 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica'> <st1:PostalCode
w:st="on">94111</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><font
face=Helvetica><span style='font-family:Helvetica'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=gray face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:gray'>e: vw@pollinator.org</span></font><font
face=Helvetica><span style='font-family:Helvetica'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=gray face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:gray'>t: 415-362-1137<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=gray face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:gray'>f: 415-362-3070<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=gray face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:gray'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><a href="http://pollinator.org/SHARE.htm"><span style='text-decoration:
none'><img border=0 width=225 height=122 id="_x0000_i1025"
src="cid:image004.jpg@01CED3FE.46C7B490"></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
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