[Pollinator] Colorado's designated Interstate 76 as a "Pollinator Highway"

Tue May 23 11:56:53 PDT 2017

Hello,

I’m Sarah Bergmann, founder of the Pollinator Pathway, a design and
philosophy project I began ten years ago. I am writing to comment upon the
emerging movement of projects such as the pollinator highway mentioned by
the Xerces Society on May 12.

A growing number of projects have recently adopted the idea of adding
native plants to roads, a model introduced in the 1960s by the Ladybird
Johnson Initiative <https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/ladybird.cfm>.
These initiatives are heartening and well-intended. However, if they are to
contribute significantly to the goal of achieving ecological
sustainability, these projects must be designed with the broader landscape
in mind. If they are not, they will be nothing more than decoration for
highways.

Our main goal in creating pathways, highways, or any other sort of corridor
filled with native plants, must be to connect larger areas of land suitable
for a diversity of species. Only this kind of connectivity has a chance of
offsetting the lack of biodiversity that is inherent in large-scale
agricultural and suburban sprawl, the two largest uses of land in the
developed world. Without such connectivity, our low-diversity landscapes
will be extremely vulnerable to climate change, and will lack resilience
against all kinds of disturbance.

It is important for us to acknowledge that the goal of connectivity is not
automatically achieved by adding plants to roadways. Functional
connectivity can only be achieved by designing links between larger
landscapes. If we do not work toward connectivity by design, and instead
add plants to whatever roadway might accept our well-intentioned efforts,
we will end up with nicely ornamented sprawl rather than a truly resilient
and sustainable ecosystem.

To solve the large-scale problems of our time, we will need to work
collaboratively across disciplines: ecologists, urban planners, designers,
political organizers, and members of many other disciplines will need to
work together. I’d like to invite you to utilize the Pollinator Pathway and
build on its momentum: We have tools for individuals, groups and
organizations wanting to design functional connective links between larger
landscapes. You can find basic criteria here
<http://www.pollinatorpathway.com/criteria/>, and if you are a group or
organization who would like further material, please feel free to email
info at pollinatorpathway.com.

We have an opportunity and an obligation to design very differently.

Sincerely,

Sarah Bergmann

Director

Pollinator Pathway

www.pollinatorpathway.com

On Fri, May 12, 2017 at 1:58 PM, Matthew Shepherd <
matthew.shepherd at xerces.org> wrote:

> A nice bit of news: Colorado has designated I-76 as “Colorado Pollinator
> Highway.”
>
>
>
> Matthew
>
>
>
> *******************
>
>
>
> Link to Resolution: http://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/docu
> ments/2017A/bills/2017A_HJR1029_rev.pdf
>
>
>
>
>
> *COLORADO TAKES STEPS TO CREATE POLLINATOR HABITAT*
>
>  *Resolution designates Interstate 76 as Colorado’s first “Pollinator
> Highway”*
>
>
>
>
>
>       DENVER – Colorado became friendlier to pollinators this week by
> passing the “Colorado Pollinator Highway” Resolution HJR 1029. The
> Resolution sponsored by Representative KC Becker and Senator Jerry
> Sonnenberg passed both the House and Senate unanimously and designates
> Interstate 76 from the Nebraska state line to Arvada, Colorado. The
> designation will allow better vegetation management, education and outreach
> to support pollinator habitat along the roadway.
>
>
>
> "Restoring and managing roadsides is vital if we hope to bring back
> pollinators," said Jennifer Hopwood of the Xerces Society. "We are
> delighted that the Colorado Department of Transportation and the State of
> Colorado are stepping up to help in this important effort."
>
>
>
> Using existing tools and programs, the resolution directs the Colorado
> Department of Transportation to designate Interstate 76 as the Colorado
> Pollinator Highway. This allows the department to accept gifts, grants or
> donations to install signage for public education. The measure will also
> direct CDOT to coordinate with local governments, willing landowners and
> other groups to utilize Integrated Roadside Vegetative Management
> strategies to develop pollinator habitat where appropriate. These efforts
> have been found to save state transportation agencies money as the
> maintenance needs of pollinator habitat are very low.
>
>
>
>  “The designation will advance Colorado efforts to expand and improve
> habitat on the I-76 transportation corridor emphasizing coordination and
> outreach. We hope I-76 will become a model for others to follow in our
> quest to help pollinators and better manage the indigenous plants along our
> corridors. We admire the decision by our state government to see the need
> to promote integrated vegetation management by passing this resolution. It
> will be a privilege to work with I-76 CDOT Maintenance and Operations and
> the community to implement the intent of the resolution” said Michael
> Banowich of the Colorado Department of Transportation.
>
>
>
> Colorado is home to over 950 native bee species, butterflies and other
> insect pollinators, all of which are vital to our state’s economy, food
> security, and environmental health. Nationwide, Honeybee pollination alone
> adds more than $15 billion in value to our agricultural crops each year,
> and provides the backbone to ensuring our diets are plentiful and varied.
> “Unfortunately, pollinator populations have been declining rapidly due to
> multiple stressors. “Among these stressors is habitat loss and
> fragmentation and a lack of availability of forage. A diverse and thriving
> pollinator population supports agriculture and a diverse ecosystem and
> there are simple tools we can engage to expand pollinator habitat in
> Colorado,” said Beth Conrey of People and Pollinators Action Network and
> past president of the Colorado State Beekeepers Association. “One area that
> provides an ideal opportunity is our state roadways and how we manage them.”
>
>
>
> David Julie, Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Colorado Native
> Plant Society said that, “Colorado's bounty of native wildflowers supports
> and depends upon healthy, diverse populations of animal pollinators.  The
> Colorado Native Plant Society appreciates that this resolution highlights
> the essential role of pollinators and the need to protect them.”
>
> ####
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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