[Pollinator] P2 NPW Media Release-POLLINATOR FLIGHT TO FRONT STAGE, 4th National Pollinator Week, June 21-27, Brings Action Across the Land

Fri Jun 18 10:35:23 PDT 2010

Click Here  <http://pollinator.org/pdfs/NPW.pdf> for pdf of Release.

cid:20100618125857.001    cid:20100618125857.002

Tom Van Arsdall  tva at pollinator.org  703.509.4746

Sunny Boyd  <mailto:sun at pollinator.org> sun at pollinator.org 415.362.1137

Pollinator Flight to Front Stage 

4th Annual National Pollinator Week, June 21-27, Brings Action Across the
Land

Washington, DC, for Immediate Release—Members of both parties of the US
House of Representatives announced today the formation of the first
Congressional Pollinator Protection Caucus (CP2C) urging colleagues to join
them in preserving pollinators.  CP2C plans to ensure that accurate
information is available to legislators and staff across a broad spectrum of
land issues.  Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and Rep. Tim Johnson (R-IL) are
co-chairing CP2C and are launching the caucus as part of National Pollinator
Week.  A “Dear Colleague” letter signed by the co-chairs and other founding
Members is being sent to fellow Members of Congress to encourage their
participation in the caucus.

“With one out of every third bite of food we humans consume dependent on
bees and other animals for their pollination services, legislators need
accurate information to help inform their positions,” commented Rep.
Hastings.  “The caucus will seek out the best of pollinator science,
economics and best practices,” said Rep. Johnson.  “This bi-partisan effort
aims to support legislators’ understanding of the needs of their
constituents with respect to pollinators, and we salute their cooperative
drive to ensure that this issue gets the attention it deserves,” commented
Pollinator Partnership (P2) Executive Director Laurie Davies Adams.  P2
supports National Pollinator Week and plays a leadership role on other
pollinator actions including the North American Pollinator Protection
Campaign (NAPPC).  “NAPPC truly supports pollinator outreach through
National Pollinator Week, and we welcome this announcement from members of
Congress.  The honey bee is just one pollinator that needs our attention to
protect our future food and ecosystems,” added Prof. E. O. Wilson, world
renowned Harvard biologist.  National Association of Conservation Districts
President Steve Robinson stated, “Pollinators are critical to the health of
the wild land and agricultural landscape, and we welcome this much-needed
focus.” 

Congressional Briefing – In conjunction with the CP2C launch, Members of
Congress, staff, and the public are invited to a briefing (program at
www.pollinator.org/briefing.htm) by pollinator experts on Thursday, June 24
at 3:30 PM at Longworth House Office Building, Room 1302.  As a special
pollinator treat, pollinator supportive companies Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream and
Burt’s Bees will provide ice cream and lip balm for attendees. Both Burt’s
Bees and Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream are committed to the health of the honey bees
that are instrumental in their products and in the well-being of plants,
people and animals.

Pollinator Week Proclamations – Sec. of Agriculture Tom Vilsak put the
official stamp on National Pollinator Week with a signed proclamation, and
he was joined by more than 32 US State Governors in designating the last
week of June as Pollinator Week (all listed on www.pollinator.org
<http://www.pollinator.org/> ).  Pollinator Week is being celebrated in the
U.S., Canada, Mexico and around the globe.

Take Action for Pollinators (TAP) – What can the general public do for
pollinators?  The myriad of answers will be spotlighted each week beginning
National Pollinator Week and will run for one year.  This new web-based
program on www.pollinator.org/TAP.htm  highlights specific actions that
school groups, farmers, gardeners, foodies and others can take to “Take
Action for Pollinators.”   The TAP program begins with a call to farmers to
visit NRCS offices around the country to understand and participate in
programs designed to provide programs to support pollinator buffers on their
land.  Each week a different NAPPC partner will provide a new call to action
to a different constituency, and all actions will be archived on the site. 

Portraits of Pollinators – A new pollinator photograph contest for North
American high school students begins during National Pollinator Week and
continues throughout the summer, ending on October 1.  Students are invited
to send in their most striking photographs of bees, bats, butterflies,
hummingbirds and other pollinating animals caught in the act of pollinating.
Two winners will receive a camera, and ten winners will receive a poster and
have their photos posted on the www.pollinator.org
<http://www.pollinator.org/>  website.  You can read about all the details
which are available at www.pollinator.org/photo_contest.htm.  

Other National Pollinator Week Activities – Pollinator supporters are taking
action across the continent.  Examples include:  (1) a USDA sponsored
People’s Garden panel discussion on “Pollinators in Decline” Monday, June 21
from 9:30 am to 10:30 am in Room 107-A of USDA’s Whitten Building in
Washington, DC and then an invitation to “buzz on by!” The USDA People’s
Garden from 10:30 am to 2 pm for numerous youth activities and exhibits
about pollinators; and (2) a multiple event week in Tucson, AZ that brings
Pollinator Partnership, Bat Conservation International, and Audubon together
in pollinator activities.  Events and activities are listed by state and
country at www.pollinator.org/pollinator_week_2010.htm.

Island Press Pollinator Special – To celebrate Pollinator Week, Island Press
will offer a special discount on three seminal books -- Forgotten
Pollinators, Where Our Food Comes From and Public Produce.  A $1.00 donation
will also be made to the Pollinator Partnership for each book sold by them
to support their work.

Background – Colony Collapse Disorder continues to plague honey bees, stump
researchers, and be a major concern to agricultural communities.  And honey
bees are not the only pollinators in peril; bumble bee species in the East
and the West also are vanishing from their customary habitats.  Loss of
pollinator habitat was a major cause identified by the National Academy of
Sciences-National Research Council’s study of pollinators.  By planting for
pollinators, we can rebuild pollinator habitat and make a significant,
positive impact on the survival rates for honey bees and other pollinators.
Whether urban or rural, pollinators obtain the vital nectar, pollen, and
nesting resources they need to thrive from key plant species.  Mostly
native, these plants are critical for survival and can be incorporated
easily into all landscapes. 

“A World of Pollinators” is the theme for 2010 National Pollinator Week.
Schools, corporations, garden clubs, nature centers, and government groups
sponsor events which teach pollinator-friendly practices and raise public
awareness about the importance of all pollinating species, including bees,
bats, beetles, butterflies, moths and even certain flies.  National
Pollinator Week includes some new and fun outreach elements for 2010.  They
include the free poster (pictured below), free pollinator ringtones,
education wheels, and more.  Visit  <http://www.pollinator.org/shop>
www.pollinator.org/shop. 

National Pollinator Week is a project of the North American Pollinator
Protection Campaign (www.nappc.org), which is managed by the Pollinator
Partnership.  To learn more, visit
www.pollinator.org/pollinator_week_2010.htm.

R. Thomas (Tom) Van Arsdall, Director of Public Affairs

   Pollinator Partnership

   (703) 509-4746

   tva at pollinator.org

cid:20100618125857.003

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