|
Pollinator Friendly Practices "Gentle day’s flower – The hummingbird competes with the stillness of the air." Pollinators, such as bees, birds, bats and insects, play a crucial role in flowering plant reproduction and in the production of most fruits and vegetables. Pollination – the transfer of pollen from one flower to another – is critical to fruit and seed production and is often provided by insects and other animals on the hunt for nectar, pollen or other floral rewards. In fact, animals provide pollination services for over three-quarters of the staple crop plants that feed human kind and for 90% of all flowering plants in the world. An estimated one out of every three bites of food we eat comes from a pollinator.
Pollinator populations are rapidly declining. The USDA Council on Sustainable Development and partner agencies recognize that the continuing decline of pollinator populations is becoming "a significant conservation and sustainability issue." The major threat to most pollinators is the destruction and fragmentation of habitat. Remaining habitat is often in small, isolated patches degraded by invasive plants and changes in land management. This has led to the loss of wildflowers required for nectar and pollen, as well as nesting sites. In addition, the extensive use of pesticides impacts both pollinators and their habitat. With so much at stake, WHC calls on our corporate partners to help with the protection of this diverse and valuable group of species. The Wildlife Habitat Council and North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) offer a unique challenge to advance corporate stewardship and the value of WHC certification. An additional recognition will be given to certified programs that implement our newly developed guidelines for Pollinator Friendly Practices (PFP). Certified WHC sites that implement specific land management practices within their habitat and site to promote pollinator populations will receive distinct honor. One of the sites that apply for recognition with WHC as a Pollinator Friendly Program will be honored at the Annual Symposium with the NAPPC WHC Pollinator In 2002, WHC in partnership with NAPPC members, including the Xerces Society and Coevolution Institute, developed the PFP guidelines. Adopted by NAPPC, they are used by organizations in support of land management practices in schools, private industry, public spaces, agriculture, forests and homes. The guidelines augment existing land use incentives and are to be used by organizations such as WHC in promoting pollinator friendly land use practices. WHC is the first organization to promote the Pollinator Friendly Practices and offer recognition for these efforts. Nest Monitoring Program
Nest boxes augment the availability of natural cavities for many species, including eastern bluebird, wood duck and American kestrel. Studies on the breeding success of birds using nest boxes and cavities have shown larger clutch sizes, lower predation rates and more young for some species. Additional projects such as planting native grasses and shrubs, creating wildflower meadows and restoring wetlands and riparian areas also help to lessen the impact of fragmentation and contribute to the overall increase in bird populations. Fragmentation is a leading cause for the decline in bird populations. Fragmented habitat occurs when a large region of habitat has been broken down, or fragmented, into a collection of smaller patches. Typically this happens when land is converted from one type of habitat to another, such as an expanded farm within areas cleared of forest. Through careful maintenance and regular plantings, enhanced areas will flourish providing nesting, foraging and cover for birds. Butterflies and other pollinators can also satisfy their nutritional needs on the nectar of native plants and flowers. Through coordinated efforts, we can ensure that populations and habitats of birds are restored and enhanced, guided by sound science and effective management. Corporate Campaign for Migratory Bird Conservation Corporations and their landholdings offer unique opportunities for this timely conservation effort – they are often the major link in efforts to protect remaining wetlands and supporting habitats from additional fragmentation. Such lands provide critical habitat for migratory birds, though conservationists often overlook them. This campaign will raise awareness and provide habitat enhancement expertise to assist corporations in improving habitat for birds that migrate through their holdings. Private companies own a large portion of land mass in North America and below the equator, land which functions as migratory flyways for thousands of birds, as well as providing stopovers for the monarch butterfly, honeybees, hummingbirds and even fruit bats. Migratory birds nest throughout North America, some as far north as the Arctic. In late summer and fall, these birds migrate south for the winter. Some winter in the southern United States, Mexico or Central America, while others go as far as South America. Each spring they must return north to their breeding grounds. WHC’s role in the campaign is to facilitate and strengthen partnerships between private and public sectors in order to expedite the process and achieve CCMBC’s goals and associated benefits for migratory birds. WHC-led conservation projects on corporate properties are important models for voluntary environmental initiatives that engage employees and local community partners.  Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader |
