Creating a pollinator-friendly city

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/09/2022 (1247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Pollinators are essential to our food security. Globally, 87 of 115 (75 per cent) of the leading food crops depend on pollinators. Wild bees and other wildlife pollinate at least 80 per cent of our food. Pollinators are struggling to survive. Their numbers are declining due to pesticide use, habitat loss, and climate change.

Here are some simple things you can do to help save wild pollinators and protect our global food supply:

Rethink your yard — One of the main threats to wild pollinators is the loss of habitat. How much of your yard is covered by a hard surface (a pollinator desert)? How much is lawn (very low value to pollinators)? How much provides high quality habitat for pollinators?

Create more bee habitat by replacing your lawn with “bee turf” – a mix of low-growing flowers and turf grasses. It can be used just like a regular lawn for recreation. It resists damage due to drought, foot traffic, and dog urine. The University of Minnesota found that bee lawns attracted over 50 species of native bees.

If you don’t use your lawn for recreation, convert the unused turf into bee or butterfly gardens. In small spaces – including apartment balconies – use planters with colourful flowers to attract pollinators. Select plants that will provide a buffet of nectar and pollen from spring through fall. Wild pollinators prefer native plants. Ornamentals are bred for showiness and they may not produce nectar or pollen. Pollinator superstars include: golden alexander (spring); bergamot, giant hyssop, milkweed, and Joe pye weed (summer); and goldenrod and asters (fall).

Stop mowing ditches — Roadside patches of milkweed once provided critical habitat for monarch butterflies. Today, milkweed and monarchs are disappearing. New technology has made it easier to mow ditches. But just because we can, doesn’t mean we should. Ditches are important refuges for native plants and valuable habitat for wild pollinators.

Stop using neonicotinoid insecticides —Many countries have banned “neonics” because they kill bees. Canada has not banned them, but we can stop buying neonics and support organic growers who use bee-friendly pest control.

Encourage city council to adopt bee-friendly practices — These shoulbe be part of a broader biodiversity plan, which should include acquiring high-quality greenspaces that support pollinators; providing incentives for developers and residents to create pollinator habitat; rethinking how complaints about pollinator-friendly yards are handled under the Liveability Bylaw; converting concrete streetscapes and under-used turf on city land into vibrant habitat for bees.