<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="text-align:center"><br><div style="text-align:start">All:<br></div><div style="text-align:start"><br></div><div style="text-align:start">Recently, the U.S. President signed a memo regarding the conservation and management of pollinators. [See: <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/06/20/presidential-memorandum-creating-federal-strategy-promote-health-honey-b">http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/06/20/presidential-memorandum-creating-federal-strategy-promote-health-honey-b</a>] Probably the first such memo about an insect coming from the White House. Within the memo is wording (inserted at the bottom of this email) that talks in broad terms about "enhancing pollinator habitat." This is a good thing, and while there is generally information available on native plants that are attractive/used by bees, there is less information available about native plants that are especially important for declining, generally rare, or specialist bees. We'd like to pull together a list of native plants for these declining, rare and specialist bees to have available for managers who will be incorporating pollinator-friendly plants into restorations, landscaping, and augmenting existing habitats/plants, etc. </div>
<div style="text-align:start"><br></div><div style="text-align:start">So, this is where you, dear listserv members, come in. Most of the time bees that specialize in the collection of pollen from a single or limited number of genera are less common and ultimately more vulnerable to landscape extinction. We need to hear from people across the U.S. (Canadians and Mexicans feel free to offer up advice too) about what specialist plants should be encouraged for your region and specific habitat types within that region to support decling, rare or specialist bees. We especially seek information from the western regions. </div>
<div style="text-align:start"><br></div><div style="text-align:start">So, you can send you ideas and suggestions publicly (to the listserv) as that may stimulate further ideas or clarifications or privately to Sam. </div>
<div style="text-align:start"><br></div><div style="text-align:start">Include the plant group/species, the bees they will serve, and the region and habitats were they are found.</div><div style="text-align:start"><br></div>
<div style="text-align:start">We will send back a compiled list to the community in a few weeks for further hashing about.</div><div style="text-align:start"><br></div><div style="text-align:start">Looks like things are happening quickly on this front so we want to have this information available soon.</div>
<div style="text-align:start"><br></div><div style="text-align:start">Thanks</div><div style="text-align:start"><br></div><div style="text-align:start">Sam Droege (<a href="mailto:sdroege@usgs.gov">sdroege@usgs.gov</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align:start">Dolores Savignano (<a href="mailto:dolores_savignano@fws.gov">dolores_savignano@fws.gov</a>) </div><div style="text-align:start"><br></div><div style="text-align:start">-----------------------------------------------</div>
<div style="text-align:start"><br></div><div style="text-align:start">Section 3 (a): Task Force member agencies shall develop and provide to the Task Force plans to enhance pollinator habitat, and subsequently implement, as appropriate, such plans on their managed lands and facilities, consistent with their missions and public safety. These plans may include: facility landscaping, including easements; land management; policies with respect to road and other rights-of-way; educational gardens; use of integrated vegetation and pest management; increased native vegetation; and application of pollinator-friendly best management practices and seed mixes. Task Force member agencies shall also review any new or renewing land management contracts and grants for the opportunity to include requirements for enhancing pollinator habitat. </div>
<div style="text-align:start"><br></div><div style="text-align:start"><div><span style="border-collapse:separate;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Tahoma;text-align:-webkit-auto;border-spacing:0px;font-size:medium"><span style="font-size:12px">Sam Droege <a href="mailto:sdroege@usgs.gov">sdroege@usgs.gov</a> </span><br style="font-size:12px">
<span style="font-size:12px">w 301-497-5840 h 301-390-7759 fax 301-497-5624</span><br style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-size:12px">USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center</span><br style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-size:12px">BARC-EAST, BLDG 308, RM 124 10300 Balt. Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705</span><br style="font-size:12px">
<span style="font-size:12px"><a href="Http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov">Http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov</a></span><br style="font-size:12px"><br style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-size:12px">Except during the nine months before he draws his first breath, </span><br style="font-size:12px">
<span style="font-size:12px"> no man manages his affairs as well as a tree does.</span><br style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-size:12px"> - George Bernard Shaw</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align:start">
<br></div><div style="text-align:start"><br></div><div style="text-align:start"><br></div><div style="text-align:start"><br></div><div style="text-align:start">-- </div><div style="text-align:start">Bees are Not Optional</div>
<div style="text-align:start">Apes sunt et non liberum</div></div></div>
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