pollinators Archives - Wildlife Habitat Council

When we think of pollinators, we most often visualize bees, butterflies and maybe hummingbirds. But pollinators – animals that pick up pollen on their bodies and transfer it from flower to flower as they travel in search of food (usually nectar) – come in many more types, shapes and sizes. In fact, bees and butterflies only make up about a fifth of the 200,000 species of invertebrate pollinators that can be found around the world, while hummingbirds comprise only about a third of the roughly 1,000 vertebrate pollinators. Many other species of insects, birds, bats, lizards and even mammals have also been known to act as pollinators.

Here are 10 of the less commonly known, but just as important, pollinating species around the world:

Hoverflies mimic the appearance of bees to scare off potential predators but are actually harmless. There are over 6,000 species of hoverflies around the globe, and they are considered one of the most important groups of pollinators.
Lesser long-nosed bats and Mexican long-nosed bats in the southwest U.S. and Mexico pollinate agave (the key ingredient in tequila) as well as a number of other flowering desert plants like cacti. These nectar-eating bats are able to identify nectar-bearing flowers using a combination of sight, smell and echolocation.
Carrion flies will sometimes visit flowers like the showy corpse flower that mimic the smell of their usual food source – dead animals and dung. Unfortunately for the flies, they do not get a nectar reward from the flowers, which instead trick the flies into pollinating them by luring them in with the smell.
Hawkmoths are nocturnal, so they typically visit flowers that are open at night. There are over 1,400 species of hawkmoths, and several are often mistaken for hummingbirds because they hover in front of flowers while they feed, just like hummingbirds.
Beetles were one of the first pollinators; fossil evidence suggests they were visiting cycad flowers about 150 million years ago, which is 50 million years before bees did. Beetles are still important pollinators today for a wide variety of flowering plants.
Blue-tailed day geckos are the primary pollinators of several rare flowers, including the Trochetia tree, found only on the Mascarene islands in the Indian Ocean, and Roussea simplex, a woody vine found on the island of Mauritius. In fact, most lizard species that pollinate flowers occur on islands.
Black-and-white ruffed lemurs are the largest known pollinators. Although it is not their primary food source, they will sometimes snack on the nectar of traveler’s palms, prying open the tough flower bracts and sticking their long snouts deep inside the blossom to lick up nectar, getting pollen all over themselves in the process.
Elephant Shrews are a group of tiny mammals in Africa that are also occasional pollinators. The shrews, named for their long elephant-like snout, sometimes supplement their diet of ants and termites with nectar from a variety of plants like the pagoda lily.
Honey Possums are a small mouse-like marsupial in southwest Australia with a very long tongue and pointed snout that help it feed on nectar and pollen of flowering shrubs and trees such as banksia and eucalyptus.
Sunbirds are a group colorful birds in Africa, Asia and Australia with long, thin bills that allow them to reach the nectar deep inside the tubular flowers that other pollinators might not be able to access. Some of the other birds that specialize in eating nectar like this include hummingbirds, honeyeaters and honeycreepers.

Pollinator projects on corporate lands are one of the most accessible ways to create a valuable impact on biodiversity, from small-scale gardens to large pollinator-friendly remediation activities. Contact WHC Consulting to discuss how to develop new pollinator projects or improve current activities.

And visit our pollinator resource page to find a wide variety of the WHC resources available to help companies take action to protect pollinators, increase public awareness, and create pollinator-friendly habitat.

What We Learned by Building Insect Hotels

Earlier this month at our annual staff retreat, my fellow WHC colleagues and I stepped into our members’ shoes for an afternoon and built our own insect hotels. The process of designing and assembling our insect hotels was a fun, hands-on learning experience for all of us.

For some of us it was an introduction to insect hotel hotels, and we all found out more about the kinds of features you can incorporate to benefit native bees and other beneficial insects. The array of natural and manmade materials we had available also inspired us to get creative with our designs.

Our finished hotels included wooden blocks and logs with drilled holes, bundles of reeds and paper tubes where solitary can lay their eggs in the holes and then seal up the entrance with mud or leaf litter. We also added other dried plant material such as twigs, dried leaves, dried grasses, moss, seed pods and pinecones, where other beneficial insects like ladybugs, ground beetles, lacewings and hoverflies—all important predators of pest insects—will seek cover. In addition, some of the structures included materials like bricks and slabs of dark slate, which will warm up in the sun and provide basking areas for insects.

This exercise led to some fantastic insights about how to make insect hotels a successful part of your corporate conservation program, and we wanted to share these insights to help you with building one for your site:

Insect hotels are a great team-building exercise. They allow team members to work together on a project, while also providing an opportunity to use their specific talents to create a better final product. Some folks may have a knack for creating an attractive or imaginative design, for example, while others may feel better equipped for more hands-on activities like constructing the frame for the structure.
It is really helpful to decide ahead of time what species you want to attract or what species in your area might benefit from an insect hotel, so that you don’t waste time constructing features or gathering materials that need to be changed or don’t end up getting used.
In a similar vein, determine how the structure will be installed, mounted or hung before laying out the design, rather than figuring it out as an afterthought and potentially having to jury-rig the installation.
Leftover materials need not got to waste – employees can use them to make their own insect hotel back at home.
Bigger is not necessarily better. For those new to the planning and construction of insect hotels, it might actually be easier to take on smaller structures.
You can add whimsical or artistic features or use a story about the kinds of bugs that visit the hotel to elicit the imagination of learners, especially young children, and help them better remember the experience.

If you want to learn more about how to build your own insect hotel, watch our webinar from earlier this year, Build a Bug Palace. And when you do build your own insect hotel, be sure to enter our “Best Of” Insect Hotel contest by August 1, 2018. We’ll be announcing the winners of the challenge at this year’s Conservation Conference, where you’ll also have a chance to see our staff’s insect hotels in person.

Keeping Fireflies from Blinking Out for Good

I don’t know about you, but I haven’t been seeing many fireflies in the last few summers.

Growing up, we called these little guys “lightning bugs.” I remember many summer evenings watching our backyard glow with what seemed like a million blinking little lights floating in the air.

Unfortunately, firefly populations seem to be declining in recent years. Although the reasons are not certain, they appear to be affected by light pollution, which disrupts their flashing displays for mating, as well as habitat destruction and improper pesticide use.

Like many bioluminescent species, fireflies—which are actually beetles, not flies—create this seemingly magical glow with a chemical reaction. A compound called luciferan contained in their abdomen combines with oxygen, calcium and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and this reaction produces light. Both males and females use this display to help them find a suitable mate, and each species of firefly (of which there are 2,000 worldwide) blinks this light in a specific pattern.

In addition to their spectacular nighttime displays, fireflies are also beneficial. You may be surprised to learn that the adults of most firefly species are pollinators! With diets consisting primarily of pollen and nectar, fireflies play an important role in the propagation of many flowering plants. Their larvae are equally helpful, eating invertebrate pests like snails, slugs, worms and grubs.

Fireflies tend to thrive in habitats that are warm, humid and near standing water. A favorite habitat for the larvae especially is areas with abundant rotting wood and leaf litter along the edges of ponds and waterways. They also like forest edges, meadows and marshes.

If you want to help fireflies in your neck of the woods, here are a few tips you can incorporate into your site’s habitat management:

• Reduce the use of pesticides near firefly habitat (check out NAPPC’s Pollinator Friendly Practices for helpful guidelines on responsible pesticide use near pollinator habitat)
• If you have riparian habitat or other warm, moist habitats near water, consider management practices that encourage the presence of leaf litter and woody debris.
• Provide vegetation for adult fireflies to seek shelter in during the day, such as tall grasses, low-growing flowering plants and creepers, and shrubs. Even mowing the lawn less frequently and at a higher height can benefit fireflies, as they often rest in lawns on or near the ground.
• Plant flowering plants with bloom times throughout the growing season to make sure adult fireflies have enough nectar and pollen to feed on.
• Wherever possible, turn building lights down or off to reduce light pollution. (This will also help migrating birds, who can become confused by and collide with buildings that are lit up at night.)

If you’d like help with managing for fireflies as part of your corporate conservation program, contact WHC’s Strategy and Planning team at strategyandplanning@wildlifehc.org.

The Importance of Pollinators

Pollinators play a special role in native ecosystems and in managed agricultural systems. Unfortunately, pollinators such as bees, bats, butterflies and ants have slowly suffered from loss of habitat and diseases. Factors such as increased land use have guided these habitats to a floral abundance deficit and exposure to parasite and pesticides have led to local extinctions of select pollinator species across the world

Thankfully, 10 years ago, the U.S Senate took the matter of declining pollinator populations into their own hands by creating National Pollinator Week.

The goal of Pollinator Week is to raise awareness about pollinators and promote conservation of pollinator habitats at a national level. Over time, this event has grown into a worldwide celebration of the beautiful and hardworking job that animals do daily through pollination.

Approximately 1,000 of the plants grown for food, beverages, fibers and medicines need to be pollinated by animals in order to produce the goods on which we rely. In fact, one out of every three bites of food, from vegetables to fruits to edible oils, are a direct result of pollination services. In the U.S. alone, bees and other insects produce $40 billion worth of products annually through the process of pollination.

In addition to their value to agriculture, these animals also play a vital role in maintaining our ecosystems. Other wild animals rely on pollinators for the production of food sources such as wild fruits, and they benefit from the conservation of pollinator habitat. Flying from flower to flower and transferring pollen along the way, pollinators have had substantial historic, economic, social and cultural impacts in our world.

The White House’s National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators (National Strategy) was also released in May 2015 to inform public-private partnerships their necessary role to implement the Pollinator Health Task Force. The Wildlife Habitat Council has been working with businesses for 30 years to facilitate high-quality pollinator conservation projects on corporate lands and to ensure companies have taken action to protect pollinators, increase public awareness around the issue, and create pollinator-friendly habitat.

Some of the strategies presented by the National Strategy are:

Restore honey bee colony health to sustainable levels by 2025
Increase eastern monarch butterfly populations to 225 million butterflies by year 2020
Restore or enhance seven million acres of land for pollinators over the next five years.

Whether it inspires your team to grow a small garden for pollinators outside your site’s entrance or to learn more about pollinators in order to pass along the information to other employees, Pollinator Week can serve your team well.

Resources

Joining Forces with USFWS to Save Monarch Butterflies in the Southeast

By now you’ve likely heard that monarch butterfly populations have drastically and rapidly declined over the past several years. While approximately 1 billion of these butterflies completed their annual migration in 1996, only 30 million did so in 2014. As a result, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is currently reviewing the species for listing under the Endangered Species Act throughout its range in the U.S.

Building upon a long-standing partnership and the recently-established USFWS Region 4 priority to protect monarchs, the USFWS reached out to Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) in September 2014 to focus on increasing the amount of quality monarch habitat on corporate lands in the southeast U.S. The 2-year joint initiative concluded in September 2016.

To achieve the goals of the initiative, WHC coordinated with companies in the southeastern states to restore monarch habitat and educate the community about monarch conservation. The 16 participating companies created monarch habitat by planting milkweed, native warm-season grasses, and other pollinator-friendly vegetation. These plantings typically took the form of pollinator gardens or wildflower meadows. WHC also encouraged site teams to educate communities about monarchs and other pollinator species and their needs. At the culmination of the joint initiative in September 2016, the participating companies had completed 29 projects, which combined provide nearly 100 acres of quality monarch habitat.

As part of these efforts, WHC helped foster partnerships between participating companies and local organizations, who lent their expertise or hands-on assistance to help complete monarch habitat projects. WHC also succeeded in connecting a number of sites with their local USFWS field offices, whose staff were all tremendously willing to help when asked.

An additional outcome of the initiative was an event held at Research Triangle Park (RTC), a large multi-company business park in North Carolina where several WHC members are located. WHC staff joined the USFWS, Research Triangle Foundation, and several other exhibitors during National Pollinator Week 2016 for a monarch and pollinator exhibition designed to spread awareness among RTC employees about monarch conservation and the joint initiative. The event also provided opportunities for employees to connect with about 20 potential partners for restoring monarch habitat at their company’s facility. WHC is grateful to the USFWS, whose staff was instrumental and invaluable in bringing together so many local partners and helping making the event successful.

Although the joint initiative has ended and the USFWS has refocused its monarch conservation efforts in the Midwest, companies still have the opportunity to contribute to monarch conservation. You can find information about monarchs in the resources found in the WHC Knowledge Center, or contact the WHC Strategy and Planning team for one-on-one guidance on creating and monitoring monarch butterfly habitat at your site.

Going Native in Your Urban Garden

Many corporate facilities are located in urban and industrial areas, where wildlife habitat tends to occur in small, isolated patches. In areas such as these, projects like native gardens are all the more important for the conservation of pollinators, birds, and other native animals.

Urban gardening with native species is suitable to a variety of settings, from urban corporate landscapes to home gardens. Like urban tree planting initiatives, native gardening projects provide multiple benefits for urban neighborhoods. They can help to revitalize urban neighborhoods by improving visual aesthetics and providing a place for people to reconnect with nature and with their neighbors. Urban gardens also contribute to cooler urban temperatures, produce oxygen, filter rainfall, and improve infiltration. In addition, urban gardens that include native plants can provide habitat for pollinators, songbirds, and other urban wildlife.

Not sure where to begin? Whether you’re starting from scratch with a new garden or revamping an existing garden at your facility, it will be easiest to first decide what your goals are for the garden. Do you want lots of colorful, delicate butterflies, or maybe zippy little hummingbirds? Try planting some colorful nectar-bearing flowering forbs, vines, and shrubs. Or maybe you’d rather attract birds that will fill your garden with their songs? You’ll want to plant shrubs that produce lots of berries and forbs that produce seeds, as well as trees for nesting if you have the room. Or perhaps you’d prefer to manage stormwater runoff with your garden—you could plant native vegetation that can tolerate occasional flooding to create a rain garden.

We’ve got a number of articles and other resources in our Knowledge Center to help you learn about native gardening – check out some of these to get you started:

We suggest starting off with this article to learn more about why it’s important to use native plants in your garden.
Here’s a list of 10 native vines you can include in your garden to attract butterflies.
If you’re interested in helping monarch butterflies, one of the best (and easiest) things you can do is plant milkweed in your garden. Read this article or watch this webinar to learn more about why monarchs are in decline and how you can help them.
Learn more about how planting a rain garden can help you manage stormwater runoff and benefit water quality, while also providing habitat for wildlife.
Gardens don’t have to just benefit wildlife – learn how to plant a garden with fruits both humans and wildlife can enjoy.
Want to show off your national pride with your garden? Find out how to create a patriotic pollinator garden that shows your love for both your country and for pollinators.

If you’d like specific recommendations on how to design your urban garden for wildlife, don’t hesitate to contact us at WHC@wildlifehc.org.

Designing the Ideal Project at Ricoh Group’s West Caldwell Site

Photo courtesy of Ricoh Group.

When Yoko Perez started working for the Environmental Team at Ricoh Americas Corporation’s West Caldwell Office in June 2013, she started working to align their Wildlife at Work program with the priorities of Ricoh Group’s biodiversity policy, as well as to better engage employees in the program. She and her team recognized that working with WHC offers the Ricoh Americas branch a unique approach from Ricoh Group’s other branches to aligning with the company’s biodiversity policy.

The West Caldwell Office’s program includes five pollinator gardens, which were installed last November with the help of the site’s landscapers to pick the garden locations and 20 volunteers to plant the garden. The Environmental Team chose plant species such as lupine, bee balm, Joe-pye-weed, and black-eyed Susan that would be shade tolerant and provide nectar to pollinators. A small rain garden planted with pollinator-friendly species was also planted in an area near the building that tends to collect water.

Photo courtesy of Ricoh Group.

In addition, invasive species such as multiflora rose, Japanese knotweed, phragmites, autumn olive, and Bradford pear have been observed on the property, so the Environmental Team is looking into controlling these species with the help of employees and local partner organizations.

Yoko and her team work hard to monitor and document their projects, including information on where each species was planted in the gardens and which of those plants survived. Monitoring is a critical part of every project because it provides information about what worked and what didn’t work.

Employees at the West Caldwell Office use the company’s intranet site, RWorld. Yoko attributes the success of her team’s program and the thoroughness of project documentation to their access to this interactive site, which allows employees across the country to post news and information, post comments and feedback, and share photographs. This makes it easy for the Environmental Team to share their monitoring data, wildlife photographs, and other documentation for the program.

Ruby-throated hummingbird observed in one of the pollinator gardens at the West Caldwell Office. Photo courtesy of Ricoh Group.

Yoko says she also uses RWorld to spur employee interest in and support for the Wildlife at Work program. For example, she told me how she posts articles for her garden blog on RWorld, and also posts information and videos for events such as National Pollinator Week and Ricoh’s Global Eco Action Month this past June.

If you’re looking for ideas to better engage your employees or document your program, please WHC.

10 Native Vines to Attract Butterflies in North America

in Member Spotlight Billerica, Massachusetts Best Bees Co., BrightView Landscape Contractors, BSC Group Inc., Erland Construction, Haymaker Ko., Urban Beekeeping Laboratory 2020 Gold Certified

Native vines are an important but often overlooked component of butterfly habitat. Many vines serve as larval host plants (food sources) for caterpillars.

Purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is one of many attractive vines that provide butterfly habitat.Photo by Bill Johnson, National Park Service

Purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is one of many attractive vines that provide butterfly habitat in North America.
Photo by Bill Johnson, National Park Service

They provide cover for butterflies and caterpillars, and the flowers provide nectar for butterflies (and many other pollinators, including hummingbirds).

Most native vines also have attractive foliage and colorful flowers that would provide an aesthetically-pleasing addition to your site’s landscaping.

Spring is generally the best time to install native plantings, so if you’d like to add vines for pollinators, now is the time!

Here are 10 examples of native vines you could plant to attract butterflies in North America:

Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia spp.)
Trumpet creeper (Campis radicans)
Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
Passionflower (Passiflora spp.)
Pipevine (Aristolochia macrophylla)
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Virgin’s bower (Clematis virginiana)
Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)
American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens)
Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata)

It’s important to remember that these examples are not native to all of North America, so when choosing vines to plant, you should always choose species that are native to your region. Also, some species like coral honeysuckle and American wisteria have non-native, invasive counterparts, so you should be sure that you’re planting the native vine species.

If you’re outside of North America, we encourage you to consult with local native plant experts to select appropriate native vine species.

If you would like specific recommendations for your site, please contact a WHC Biologist or your local Cooperative Extension agent.

EMD Serono | Putting the Focus on Pollinators

Pollinators play a key role in our ecosystems, and by devoting time and resources to pollinator support, the corporate sector can help ensure the health of these important populations. Healthcare and biotechnology company EMD Serono is one such corporation making a commitment to protect pollinators. EMD Serono’s Research and Development Institute, located about 25 miles outside Boston, Massachusetts, is the site of a WHC Gold-Certified program. This facility includes almost 40 acres of wildlife habitat and encompasses grasslands, wetlands and pollinator habitats that help contribute to employee knowledge and support the company’s dedication to corporate conservation.

In 2018, the company conducted an assessment to better understand the conditions on-site, with the goal of establishing a program that would support pollinator species across landscapes. Of particular concern is the global loss of honeybees, so efforts are focused on supporting bees and other pollinators by providing forage plants, sources of water and places to sun and nest. While eastern bumble bees are the species most commonly seen on-site, EMD Serono also supports other pollinators and flying insects that play a critical role in the ecosystem.

Through their grassland projects, the team’s goal is to enhance the area to create habitat for pollinators. EMD Serono worked with partner Best Bees Co. to assess the area, determining pollinator forage type, diversity and capacity. By sampling honey from a research apiary installed on-site, the team is able to perform genetic profiling in order to determine the best plants to meet pollinators’ needs. EMD Serono has also made changes to its forest edge management practices, such as utilizing trees that are likely to fall for snags and log habitats.

A recently constructed savannah meadow creates forage resources and habitat for pollinators like ground-nesting bees. The area was formerly a lawn and parking area that had been disturbed by nearby construction, so the team worked to restore the soil and plant xeriscape grasses, flowers and ornamental trees, eventually adding wildflowers to provide a wide array of forage for pollinators.

Employee engagement is key to any successful project, and EMD Serono’s employee education initiative, Project Pollinate, utilizes the on-site habitats to teach employees best practices for supporting pollinators. Learners can then take those skills to their own backyards. Through guided tours of the habitat, a self-guided audio tour, guest speakers, hands-on learning sessions and more, employees gain a broader understanding of the conservation efforts taking place at EMD Serono. Additionally, they are empowered to initiate and maintain their own pollinator projects at home.

Not only does this project educate about the impact of pollinators, but it also gives participants an opportunity to shape the habitats and environments around them. While the audience is primarily employees, the project has also seen the participation of visitors, contractors and corporate peers. EMD Serono recognizes the value of nature and landscaping to enrich employees’ lives, which is why the company is dedicated to creating a “living landscape” with a purposeful design that helps employees and others understand their role in the environment.

“The reimagined campus has become a tangible and positive wellness experience for employees, guests and visitors, with direct access to trees, and landscapes designed to connect occupants to the natural world,” said Casey-Lee Bastien, Landscape Architect with BSC Group and member of the conservation project team. “The success of our program and process have had ripple effects in the community, including staff making changes in their home landscapes and proudly discussing and sharing their experience. Contractors have brought family to see the campus they work on because it is a project with a story, a purpose, and real values.”

These efforts to support pollinators have had a positive impact on other aspects of their operations. “Our pollinator program has affected all aspects of site work, from water reclamation to lighting, to genetic pollen forage profiling, habitat artwork and every piece of landscape on our site,” said Bastien. “Habitat is not something to put in a box.” EMD Serono even worked with contractors to alter their practices, encouraging them to replace gas-powered tools with manual and battery-powered equipment in order to have a positive influence on the landscaping industry as a whole. “That sort of change isn’t easy; it has to be repeated and re-preached,” Bastien explained. “It must be visible in every interaction because our leaders, designers and practitioners are learning and adapting together.”

By creating a thriving corporate habitat that prioritizes pollinators and sets a standard for habitat enrichment, EMD Serono is demonstrating the important role the private sector plays in supporting wildlife and habitat needs.

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Ashland | Responsibly Solving to Support a Thriving Habitat at a Former Landfill

in Member Spotlight Burlington, New Jersey Coventry Environmental, Geosyntec, Kennedy Jenks, Rutgers University 2014 Gold Certified

Ashland’s Old York Road site, a former landfill located in Burlington Township, New Jersey, comprises seven acres of grassland and has been actively managed for conservation since 2012. The site houses projects ranging from invasive species management to mammal monitoring to educational partnerships. Ashland’s conservation goals include monitoring and supporting native wildlife and incorporating native vegetation to reduce maintenance needs across the site. Through a partnership with Rutgers University, the company also facilitates hands-on learning opportunities for future conservation professionals.

Ashland’s commitment to environmental protection aligns with the Responsible Care® program, a global initiative developed by and for chemical companies. “Identifying opportunities to create conservation projects on environmental remediation sites aligns with Ashland’s global environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives and Responsible Care goals of improving the environmental and social impacts of the company’s operations on our communities,” explained Shannon Lloyd, remediation project manager at Ashland.

Old York Road plays host to various species of birds, bats, mammals and pollinators, with projects designed to attract and support these native species. The bird box project targets cavity-nesting songbirds, with predator guards ensuring that only avian species can access the boxes. Through weekly monitoring, employees found that 52 fledglings successfully graduated from the nesting boxes in 2020 and 2021, with the number of successful fledglings nearly doubling in 2021.

As white-nose syndrome has been documented in the state of New Jersey, Ashland’s solvers have aligned their bat project with the White-Nose Syndrome Response Team’s recommendations for supporting bat populations, such as providing shelter, food and water. In addition to box observations, Ashland also uses an ultrasonic microphone for monitoring purposes. Through echolocation surveys, the team has determined that there are five species of cave-dwelling bats in the area: big brown bats, little brown bats, red bats, hoary bats and silver haired bats.

To facilitate further species monitoring, Ashland has installed a wildlife camera trap annually since 2019 to record evidence of mammals such as white-tailed deer, racoons and red foxes. Two cameras are installed and deployed for five days during seasonal monitoring events. Nine species were identified using this camera, including the target species plus groundhogs, opossums and squirrels. Ashland also conducts pollinator monitoring of bumblebees, honeybees and butterflies, and in May 2021, 19 total pollinator species were observed.

Through a formal learning connection with Rutgers University, Ashland creates real-world educational experiences for local students that surpasses what is possible through classroom instruction alone. “Ashland has made a commitment to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education,” said Lloyd, “and partnering with students who gain hands-on field experience action supports that commitment.” This mutually beneficial partnership with Rutgers provides students the opportunity to apply their ecological expertise to the site’s projects by monitoring nest boxes and conducting wildlife and vegetation surveys, while Ashland receives useful data for monitoring and documentation. Through this project, students hone their skills of data collection and management, field observation, species identification and applied conservation. “There is a learning curve that varies each year,” explained Lora Sterner, senior associate environmental scientist, Kennedy Jenks Consultants, Inc. and program manager for Ashland’s WHC sites. “Preparing step-by-step procedures specific to each project is part of the programmatic approach and improves the consistency and quality of information used in preparing the certification documentation.”

The program at Old York Road also targets invasive species. The tree of heaven is an invasive tree in the area that grows quickly and outcompetes native plants for resources such as water and sunlight. They were first observed on-site in 2017 and were targeted for removal via mowing and cutting. Tree of heaven often serves as habitat for another invasive species, the spotted lanternfly, which was first seen on-site in 2020. The team has since targeted trees of heaven more heavily for removal, and the ongoing removal of these trees will help slow the growth of lanternfly populations.

As part of their remediation of the former landfill, the team at Ashland went above and beyond regulatory requirements by seeding the landfill cap with a native seed mix and developing a maintenance plan to support the growth and success of native plants. Thanks to a conservation easement, the remediation project is protected from any habitat loss or fragmentation that might occur due to development or reuse of the site.

Through partnerships, rigorous monitoring and a dedication to supporting native plants and animals, Ashland’s solvers have developed a thriving habitat.

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Shell | Protecting Migratory Species in the Energy Corridor

in Member Spotlight Houston, Texas Houston Wilderness, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 2010 Gold Certified

Off Interstate 10 in the Energy Corridor of Houston, Texas, lies a haven for pollinators and other wildlife along the migratory flyway. The Shell Oil Company’s Woodcreek Campus sits on 100 acres of land, with just under half of that boasting natural areas including wildflower gardens, a creek and a forested area.

With the rapid development (and paving over) of natural habitat in the Energy Corridor of West Houston, we feel that our campus plays an important role in the migratory success [of pollinators] –Laura Castle, External Relations Advisor – Environmental

The Woodcreek Campus has always been focused on keeping as much green space as possible, with design considerations for wildlife being an important factor since the property was acquired in 1978. When Shell Real Estate began to refurbish existing buildings and construct new ones, it made certain the construction was in line with conserving and restoring wildlife habitat on-site, and aimed to increase the accessibility of nature to its 6,000 employees.

The site’s employees tend to several conservation projects at Woodcreek Campus, which first achieved WHC Certification in 2010. They built a native pollinator garden that includes monarch-friendly plants such as milkweed, Gulf mulhy, Texas lantana and yellow bells. Steps were taken to protect hummingbirds with the installation of window screens during migratory season to reduce window collisions, along with moving flowering vegetation to open areas so the birds are not drawn near the buildings. Shell employees have also taken up actions to reduce human-snake interaction while remaining a no-kill facility, including relocating snakes found on site to the nearby Addicks Reservoir where suitable habitat exists, and human-snake interaction is less likely. Wildlife sightings and health of the habitats are monitored daily to make sure maintenance is not needed and the projects are meeting campus environmental goals.

Gina Flynn, Real Estate Services Manager at Woodcreek, says that employees are incredibly proud of the collection of projects on their site. With three different community engagement events a year, they certainly get that chance to educate and share their success. Woodcreek hosts Powering Conservation Day each year where employees and their children interact with Shell’s environmental partners and learn about the campus’s conservation initiatives. Environmental Awareness Day celebrates Earth Day each year and engages over 1,000 people in learning about the value of conservation in their business and encourages employees to become more involved in the efforts. Flynn states, “We are proud that we get to tell our story in community engagement events. The positive response we get from our employees and environmental NGO partner attendees is energizing!”

In addition to engaging employees and families, the team at Woodcreek works closely with local schools. Over 30 second graders from a local elementary school are educated each year, meeting an important community need for science education. The students learn about the importance of butterflies as pollinators, Houston’s critical location in the Tri-Regional Monarch Flyway, and how Shell is working with national and local conservation groups to use milkweed and other native Texas plantings to increase the numbers of monarch butterflies passing through to and from Mexico.

The global pandemic has not stopped Woodcreek from achieving their conservation goals. Although education and engagement events are not possible, Flynn states they continue to make capital improvements in their landscaping with conservation in mind. The team is also dedicated to continuing education about native landscaping and the importance of these habitats virtually, including encouraging employees to incorporate native landscaping in their personal gardens with the use of the WHC collaborative document: A Guide to Native Landscaping in the US.

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IBM | Continuous Improvement of a 20-year Program in North Carolina

in Member Spotlight Durham, North Carolina 2002 Gold Certified

Research Triangle Park (RTP) in Durham and Wake Counties, North Carolina is the largest research park in the United States and a premier global innovation center. Its 7,000 acres house hundreds of companies, including IBM, who arrived in RTP in 1965.

For nearly 20 years, employee volunteers at IBM Research Triangle Park have worked to transform a 579-acre outdoor space into a haven for wildlife including bluebirds, owls, wood ducks, butterflies and reptiles. The conservation program at the facility focuses on employee interest and engagement while also supporting IBM’s long-standing environmental policy and programs . Approximately 350 volunteers oversee a wide range of projects, including nest boxes for avian species, butterfly gardens, stream clean-ups, and a reptile basking platform.

Program volunteers have a long history of engaging with the community. They partnered with Eagle Scouts to build a self-guided, interpretive nature trail with guideposts identifying species encountered on the trail and developed a community garden in an 880-square-foot space between two buildings. The garden provides an opportunity for employees to tend to the garden and harvest fresh vegetables, and enhances biodiversity by providing a food source for pollinators. Employees also worked with the local Boy Scouts to sink approximately 20 employee-donated Christmas trees into the site’s 3-acre pond to improve the fish habitat.

During nesting season, employees help monitor approximately 30 bluebird houses. Stuart Hurwitz, an environmental engineer at IBM Research Triangle Park, says the bluebird boxes monitoring program is the longest running and best supported program at the site.

“It generally involves the greatest number of employees and provides a welcome break to get out of the office and spend some time outside,” said Hurwitz. “There is nothing better than monitoring the boxes and observing the new hatchlings.”

IBM also hosts an annual joint celebration of Earth Day and Take Your Child to Work Day, drawing approximately 300-400 school students and their parents a year, from IBM families as well as some local schools. Activities have highlighted topics such as astronomy, beekeeping, biking, car-pooling, hiking/camping, gardening, farm life, fishing, Scouting, State Parks, well-being and nature. In addition, they have conducted guided nature walks at their site’s recreation center.

The team at IBM RTP are continuously seeking new ways to increase employee engagement, education and community outreach programs. They would also like to increase the number of bird houses on site as well as potentially add a few beehives.

Hurwitz says it’s the employees that volunteer their time and effort that make the program special. “They do it because they are passionate about their support of environmental programs and doing the right thing,” he said. “While each employee has interests in different individual programs, the group as a whole contributes to an overall program rich in environmental conservation diversity.”

Related Content

WHC White Papers:
Relevant President’s Blog or Wildlife Blog posts:
Project Guidances:
WHC Webinars:

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Phillips 66 | Nature Works its Magic at the Gas Pump

in Member Spotlight Roseville, California

When you think of gas stations, native plants and flowers don’t naturally come to mind. But with the help of Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC), one company decided to change that.

As part of their commitment to environmental stewardship, Phillips 66 created a habitat and conservation initiative to support their employees, communities, operating facilities and branded stations across the country in updating their landscaping with native plants.

The company engaged the conservation experts at WHC to create customized native landscaping guides for gas stations across the U.S. Each of the guides contains recommended landscaping projects based on the native plants and animals that inhabit the area and serves as an easy-to-use tool to help station owners enhance biodiversity on their sites.

“We feel as responsible operators we must embrace not just the community but the environment we live in,” said Robert Robinson, owner of a 76 station, which is owned by Phillips 66, in Roseville, California.

“We try to have as close to zero negative impact to our environment as we can.”

Native landscaping— even the smallest patches —benefits pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds with plants that provide nectar and shelter. It improves air and water quality by reducing irrigation and fertilizer needs, stabilizing the soil and reducing flooding by absorbing stormwater run-off. It benefits the community by enhancing the appearance, providing unique opportunities to observe wildlife and increase awareness about environmental sustainability and biodiversity.

The site in Roseville contains over two acres of land with 45 of 70 parking spots covered with a solar canopy. Flower beds at the site have been converted to a drip irrigation system, which saves water and nutrients, compared with a sprinkler or a surface irrigation system.

The site attracts eagles, hawks, owls, turkeys and coyotes, in addition to improving the air and water quality and being a fun learning experience for visitors.

“We are very proud of the impact not just to the community but to the environment as well,” said Robinson.

To date, WHC has developed native landscaping guides for 18 states, with four more in progress, in addition to one for the United Kingdom.

Related Content

White Papers:
Relevant President’s Blog or Wildlife Blog posts
Project Guidances:
WHC Webinars:

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Marathon Petroleum | A Unique Outdoor Classroom for Illinois Students

in Member Spotlight Palestine, Illinois Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Local Schools, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pollinator Partnership 2006 Gold Certified

Nestled along the western banks of the Wabash River in Illinois is Marathon Petroleum’s Palestine Neal Pit, an 80-acre former limestone quarry that sits adjacent to Robinson Refinery. A portion of the pit sits atop an aquifer which provides water for the 1000-acre refinery, while the remaining land is comprised of a number of habitats including forest, grassland and wetlands. The site’s wildlife team, made up of about 20 employees, works tirelessly to maintain a number of WHC-certified projects – from pollinator gardens and bird boxes to habitat restoration and environmental education.

One of the bigger projects is the site’s nest monitoring program, which was designed to counteract the decline of nesting habitat for migratory birds. To date, over 50 nesting structures have been installed on the grounds of Palestine Neal Pit, consisting of boxes for bluebirds, barn owls, woodpeckers and wood ducks, and platforms for osprey. In addition, several bat boxes were constructed to protect the local brown bat populations from habitat loss and their increasingly limited roosting options. The team conducts regular monitoring of the bat boxes and uses bat monitors to track the bats.

Biodiversity isn’t the only beneficiary of the conservation work done at Palestine Neal Pit; local students also greatly benefit from visits to the site. A number of educational events are hosted at the site, including the biannual “Neal Pit Day” for second-graders from surrounding schools. In addition to a nature walk, half-a-dozen different stations are set up for students to visit, focusing on a wide variety of subjects including pollinators, solar panels and small wind turbines. Some presentations are even interactive, with electricians discussing energy while students pedal on bicycles to generate electricity and solar power.

“To further improve the experience for visiting students, we built a pavilion that is completely off-the-grid,” says Greg Hevron, who leads the wildlife team at Palestine Neal Pit. “Solar panels and wind energy produce the electricity, and a small well and the aquifer provide running water. The pavilion is situated in a remote area of the site so it allows the students to be completely immersed in nature while learning about it.”

While there are many ideas about what project to tackle next, including native plantings and work on the site’s wetlands, the team continues to focus much of its time and energy on the program’s education projects since hands-on environmental education is, as Hevron states, “essential in inspiring the next generation of teachers, scientists and environmental stewards.”

Related Content

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Exelon | Los Beneficios de la Gestión Integrada de la Vegetación (IVM)

in Member Spotlight Columbia, Maryland, Davidsonville, Maryland 2011

Lo que comenzó como dos sitios piloto para la implementación de la Gestión Integrada de la Vegetación (IVM) en los derechos de vía de la BGE ha florecido en un programa que provee hábitat nativo de calidad para la vida silvestre, oportunidades de aprendizaje para la comunidad y sirve como modelo para otros BGE ROWS.

En 2009, el Programa de Administración Ambiental de Derechos de Vía de BGE identificó dos sitios en Maryland – South River y Columbia- para comenzar a probar varios métodos de manejo de vegetación al igual que reducir las transmisiones eléctricas. El equipo experimentó con éxito el control de la vegetación invasiva como la madreselva japonesa, el árbol de los cielos, el olivo de otoño y la rosa multiflora.

“Las aves, las abejas, las mariposas y las comunidades de plantas nativas prosperan después de la implementación de la IVM.”

El monitoreo científico de las áreas piloto brinda información importante sobre las condiciones existentes antes de IVM y cómo las comunidades de plantas y animales cambiaron con el tiempo. Estos estudios contribuyen al conocimiento científico sobre la gestión de las comunidades naturales que se producen a lo largo de ROWS y cómo pueden beneficiarse de las prácticas.

Por ejemplo, de las abejas nativas llevado a cabo en asociación con el USGS Native Bee Inventario y el Laboratorio de Monitoreo reveló mejoras en la diversidad nativa de abejas después de la aplicación de IVM en el sitio de Columbia. Estudios similares han mostrado resultados positivos en las poblaciones de mariposas, aves y plantas en respuesta a la IVM en comparación con los regímenes tradicionales de corte. Usando múltiples puntos de venta, incluyendo revistas científicas y conferencias, el equipo comparte los resultados de estos estudios para educar al público sobre los beneficios de la IVM y promover el desarrollo de estándares de la industria para IVM.

El Programa de Administración Ambiental de los Derechos de Vía de BGE integra varias características s que lo convierten en un sello distintivo de los programas de conservación exitosos, incluyendo:

Construir un fuerte apoyo para el programa dentro de la comunidad, utilizando reuniones y ofreciendo otras oportunidades educativas para que los miembros de la comunidad se involucren con la compañía.
Reclutamiento de socios para proporcionar experiencia clave en la implementación exitosa de IVM a lo largo de ROWS.
Realizar un monitoreo de seguimiento para ver si las comunidades de plantas y animales en las áreas del proyecto respondieron favorablemente a la IVM.

Mediante el uso de IVM para controlar especies invasoras y árboles de alto crecimiento, y permitiendo la competencia natural entre las especies, el equipo fomenta de manera efectiva los hábitats nativos que apoyan tanto la vida silvestre como las necesidades de la industria.

DTE Energy | An Urban Oasis for Community and Wildlife in Industrial Detroit

in Member Spotlight Detroit, Michigan Beacon Day Treatment Center, Boy Scouts, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wayne State University 2004

En Español

A power plant in an industrial area of Detroit at the juncture of the Rouge and Detroit Rivers is hardly the place one ventures for a retreat to nature. But a team of employee volunteers at DTE Energy have created an urban oasis at the company’s 105-acre River Rouge Power Plant.

[do_widget id=fpw_widget-2 title=false]Determined to utilize unused space amidst a sea of buildings and pavement, the team prioritized the incorporation of habitat wherever possible on the property, replacing every square inch of lawn with native, wildlife-friendly vegetation and creating a 5-acre nature area, repurposed from an unused, mowed field. Here, employees and visitors alike can enjoy and learn about the abundant tree plantings, prairie habitat, ponds and trails.

Great care was taken with the choices of landscape and species to ensure they were native to the region and beneficial to existing wildlife, according to Kirsten LeForce, DTE Energy conservation programs coordinator. The native plantings of trees, grasses and flowers include a variety of species that provide food for migrating birds, which stop over at the site in large numbers each spring and fall. The nature area also features a snake hibernaculum which provides cover habitat for Michigan state-threatened eastern fox snakes.

From the beginning, the nature area was meant to be enjoyed not only by employees but also the surrounding community, which lacked a useable source of greenspace. The River Rouge Power Plant hosts events several times a year, inviting local elementary schools and other community groups to participate in nature walks along the trails, tree planting, invasive species removal, pond sampling, and educational presentations about Michigan’s animals.

Another priority was the shoreline since the area was in dire need of restoration. In an effort to attract native birds and fish, the team received a Five Star Restoration Grant in 2010 to implement soft-shore engineering along the hardened Rouge River shoreline. This successfully-restored area now provides valuable habitat for herons and fish, and the native vegetation prevents the shoreline from eroding any further. The team also attempted to create nesting habitat for state-threatened common terns along the shoreline. However, despite working with several experts and utilizing best-practice tactics to attract terns, these birds have not yet successfully nested on-site. Jason Cousino, the Wildlife Habitat Coordinator for the River Rouge facility, noted that no matter how much time, energy and excitement goes into a project, it still may not be successful, but important lessons can be learned from failures just as much as successes.

Above all, LeForce remarked that the employees’ “passion for their site” is what drives the program’s continued success. Employees from all levels can get involved with the projects that are important to them, and the team receives an abundance of support from site management for implementing and maintaining projects.

Exelon | Unearthing the Benefits of IVM

in Member Spotlight Columbia, Maryland, Davidsonville, Maryland 2011

En Español

What began as two pilot sites for Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) implementation on BGE rights-of-way (ROWs) has flourished into a program providing quality native habitat for wildlife, learning opportunities for the community, and serving as a model for other BGE ROWs.

[do_widget id=fpw_widget-2 title=false]In 2009, the BGE Rights-of-Way Environmental Stewardship Program identified two sites in Maryland—the South River site and Columbia site—to begin testing various vegetation management methods to determine the ones most effective in benefitting native wildlife while also reducing the interference of tall vegetation with electrical transmission. The team experienced much success with the control of invasive vegetation such as Japanese honeysuckle, tree-of-heaven, autumn olive, multiflora rose, and mile-a-minute vine.

Birds, bees, butterflies, and native plant communities all thrive following implementation of IVM.

Scientific monitoring of the pilot areas provides important insights into baseline conditions prior to IVM and how the plant and animal communities changed over time. These studies contribute to the scientific knowledge about managing the natural communities that occur along ROWs and how they can benefit from IVM practices.

For example, a study of the response of native bees conducted in partnership with the USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Laboratory revealed improvements in native bee diversity following implementation of IVM at the Columbia site. Similar studies have shown positive outcomes in butterfly, bird, and plant populations in response to IVM compared to traditional mowing regimes. Using multiple outlets, including scientific journals and conferences, the team shares the results of these studies to educate the public about the benefits of IVM, and promote the development of industry standards for IVM.

The BGE Rights-of-Way Environmental Stewardship Program integrates several notable features that make it a hallmark of successful conservation programs, including:

Building strong support for the program within the community, utilizing meetings and offering other educational opportunities for community members to engage with the company.
Enlisting knowledgeable partners to provide key expertise in successfully implementing IVM along the ROWs.
Conducting follow-up monitoring to see if the plant and animal communities in the project areas responded favorably to IVM.

By using IVM to control invasive species and tall-growing trees, and allowing natural competition between species to take place, the team effectively encourages native habitats that support both wildlife and industry needs.

General Motors | Pollinator Gardens for Everyone: Engaging Students of All Abilities in Pollinator Education

in Member Spotlight Boryeong, Chungnam, South Korea BR Jeong-sim School, Ju-san High School

En Español

The General Motors (GM) Boryeong Transmission plant in Boryeong, South Korea is a relatively new program that began with a corporate initiative to implement conservation programs at GM’s international manufacturing facilities. Over time, it has transformed into a well-rounded conservation and education program that is cherished by its employees.

The program has been well-received by the participating schools, the community and the local media.

The program’s main focus is a pollinator garden project that incorporates education initiatives for students at two local schools; the goal is to increase awareness and interest in wildlife and environmental concerns within the local community. The program is designed to be sustainable by allowing students to participate across multiple grade levels. Botany is a part of junior and senior students’ formal curriculum at nearby Ju-san High School, making their involvement in the pollinator gardens a perfect fit into their education. All of the students at BR Jeong-sim School, a school for disabled students in the community, also participate by planting and monitoring in the pollinator garden, with the assistance of employees. Jungjae Yu, an environmental engineer who leads the Boryeong team, has expressed the importance of this partnership, as it provides the students with the benefits of socialization as well as pollinator education, while also furthering GM’s commitment to the environment and the communities they work in.

Local schools’ participation in the conservation program is significant for this region, as it is not part of the culture in the Republic of Korea to bring community members to corporate facilities like GM’s Boryeong Transmission plant. Fortunately, this practice has been well-received by the community and the local media, and the schools have committed to continuing this partnership.

For Boryeong, the most challenging hurdle to success has been the language barrier, but it is a barrier the team has worked hard to overcome. With the help of the regional Environment & Compliance team the materials provided by WHC were translated from English to Korean to allow the whole team to understand and use them. All of the training and documentation of program activities is conducted in Korean, which was then translated into English for the WHC Conservation Certification application.

The program’s success would not have been possible without the support provided to the team by regional and corporate-level leadership at GM. This leadership first acquainted plant managers with the concept of a conservation program, and has ensured success by provided training and other support for the plant’s employees as the program has developed.

The Boryeong plant’s conservation program has made admirable contributions to both conservation and education in the Boryeong community. As conveyed by Mr. Yu, participation in the site’s conservation program has helped GM employees to change their personal mindset about environmental issues, and it is a program that employees take great pride in.

Preparing for Pollinators: A Guide for Attracting Pollinators All Season

View the webinar
…

With the spring planting season approaching, it’s time to start thinking about which plant species to include in your corporate habitat or garden. There are many factors to consider, including location, size, sunlight and water needs — and whether your garden attracts key pollinators. Pollinators like bees, butterflies and birds play an essential role in healthy ecosystems, but due to habitat loss and climate change, pollinator populations across the globe are in decline. One way to support these important species is by designing pollinator-friendly habitats.

In this webinar, you’ll hear from pollinator and plant experts on how to start a successful pollinator garden that will provide benefits throughout the season. From selecting native plants to providing nesting habitat needs, this webinar will cover the basics of making your site a haven for pollinators.

What you’ll learn:

Different pollinator habitat needs across species
Tips on providing for pollinators throughout the whole season
How to select pollinator-friendly plants that are regionally appropriate

Who should take this webinar:

Corporate conservation teams that want to start a pollinator garden for the first time
Existing pollinator project teams interested in leveling up their habitats
Anyone who wants to learn more about supporting pollinators

Presenters:

Celia Vuocolo, Working Lands for Wildlife Pollinator Coordinator-East, Pheasants Forever, Inc. and Quail Forever
Carrie Wiles, Marketing Manager, North Creek Nurseries

Building Insect Hotels: Enhancing Hospitality for Bugs, Bees and Beetles

Enter WHC’s ‘Best of’ Insect Hotel Challenge
…

Insects play a key role in healthy ecosystems — they pollinate plants, improve soil health and serve as an crucial part of the food chain. Despite their importance, insect populations have seen a decline in recent years due to habitat loss, use of pesticides and a changing climate. Insect hotels are an easy and inexpensive way to support insects in a habitat near you. Not only do these structures provide shelter for pollinators and other insects, but building them also serves as a fun activity that raises awareness about the importance of insects and can even support STEM learning objectives.

In this webinar, you’ll learn the basics of constructing your own insect hotel and tips on using an insect hotel to facilitate learning at your habitat. At the end of the webinar, we’ll invite you to build your own bug hotel and submit it to our “Best of” insect hotel challenge!

What you’ll learn:

Ideal materials for building an insect hotel and the best locations to place them
How to maintain and clean an insect hotel
Ways to incorporate an insect hotel into an existing habitat project

Who should take this webinar:

Conservation teams interested in including insect monitoring as a STEM activity
Members of a pollinator project looking for ways to enhance their habitat
Anyone who wants to learn how to provide shelter for insects

Presenter:

Delainey Williams, Certification Manager, WHC

Enter WHC’s ‘Best of’ Insect Hotel Challenge

What’s Happening Under the Water? How to Start an Aquatic Conservation Project

There’s a myriad of ways to support species and habitat needs on corporate lands. Conservation teams may feel confident in their abilities to plant native plants, build a pollinator garden or install nest boxes — but when it comes to projects that involve aquatic species or habitats, what’s happening under the water can seem much murkier.

With World Water Day coming up on March 22, now is a great time to start thinking about how to build a conservation project that supports aquatic species and habitats. In this webinar, we’ll share an overview of the different kinds of aquatic conservation projects – from protecting fish to restoring riparian habitats and more. You’ll gain insight into what it takes to start and maintain an aquatic project, supported by specific examples from several long-running and successful projects at Ontario Power Generation’s Wesleyville site.

What you’ll learn:

The different types of aquatic conservation projects, including species protection, habitat restoration and invasive species management

How to get started on an aquatic conservation project
Tips for handling challenges that may come along with these types of projects

Who should take this webinar:

Corporate conservation teams that are interested in starting an aquatic conservation project
Current members of an aquatic conservation team looking for tips on maintaining their work

Anyone who wants to learn more about protecting aquatic species and habitats

Presenters:

Ashley Fox, Associate Environmental Advisor – Corp. Environment, Health & Safety, Ontario Power Generation
Gwen Harris, Conservation Specialist, WHC

Supporting the Global Pollinator Population Through Local Action

in Pollinators White Papers

Sponsored by BASF

Given the interconnectivity of habitats and regions, and the key role pollinators play in global food production and trade, the collapse in pollinator populations poses threats to global biodiversity, food security and economic prosperity. It’s therefore critical that companies worldwide take action, contributing to the network of regional pollinator (and pollinator education) initiatives that together are addressing this global crisis.

The dedication to preserving local pollinators demonstrated through the featured case studies of this white paper can inspire acts of pollinator conservation on corporate lands of any size, in all industries and localities, meaning that any land manager can contribute to the global movement to protect these invaluable species.

To download this white paper, please fill out the form below.

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Beyond the Pollinator Garden: How to Make the Greatest Impacts for Bees and Butterflies

View the webinar
…

Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths and hummingbirds play an invaluable role in our ecosystems. Although pollinator gardens are important in protecting these species, larger-scale efforts are going to be required for pollinator conservation to be most effective and sustainable over the long-term. Join our panel of experts from the Pollinator Partnership to learn about recent developments in pollinator conservation and how to effectively implement larger-scale projects.

You’ll learn:

The current state of pollinator populations
New research and BMPs that can inform scalable on-the-ground impacts for pollinator conservation efforts
About Pollinator Partnership and their 20-year collaboration with WHC

Who should take this webinar:

Those wanting to start managing for pollinators at their facility
Anyone looking to take their pollinator conservation efforts to the next level
Anyone interested in learning about current trends and scientific knowledge in pollinator conservation

Presenters:

Laurie Davies Adams, Executive Director, Pollinator Partnership
Kelly Rourke, Director of Programs and Operations, Pollinator Partnership
Lora Morandin, Research and Program Director, Pollinator Partnership

Bats and Agave: Nectar Corridors and Cultural Connections in the Southwest

View the webinar
…

In Mexico and the American southwest, agave serves as a crucial nectar source for pollinators, particularly long-nosed bats. The continued decline in agave availability threatens long-nosed bat populations. This webinar will demonstrate how corporate conservation programs in Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas and Mexico can join the growing and critical initiative to support bat populations by restoring the agave nectar corridor.

Presentation slides are available in both Spanish and English.

You’ll learn:

How to effectively plant, monitor and maintain agave on your site for habitat restoration
How to align activities to broader habitat connectivity/nectar corridor efforts
The ecological relationship between bats and agave
The cultural significance of agave in Mexican communities

Presenter:

Mylea Bayless, Senior Director of Network and Partnerships, Bat Conservation International

For more information about the importance of agave to bats, read Mylea’s guest blog post “Save a Bat, Plant an Agave.”

Saving Bats From Decline

in Awareness and Community Engagement, Bats, Caves and Subterranean, Education & Awareness, Forest, Grasslands, Habitat, Marine Intertidal, Pollinators, Species Management, Species of Concern, Wetlands White Papers

The Corporate Role in Preserving the Ecological and Economic Benefits of Bats
Sponsored by Ontario Power Generation

Bats are a unique group of animals with ecological, economical and cultural significance around the world. They are ubiquitous, with 1,300 species living on every continent but Antarctica. Insectivorous bats save agriculture billions of dollars through predation of a multitude of agricultural pests. Other bats eat fruit and nectar, acting as pollinators and spreading seeds of the fruit they eat, proving essential to the success of many food products like tequila and chocolate, consequently contributing to the global economy. With increased need, heightened interest and accessible technology, now is an opportune time for corporate landowners to engage in bat conservation projects.

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You Too Can Create Positive Pollinator Projects

in Pollinators On Demand Webinars

Pollinator projects are some of the easiest projects to implement on corporate lands. In this webinar, hear how WHC member companies such as Bayer and General Motors have implemented successful pollinator projects on their corporate habitat. You’ll also get an update on the current state of pollinator health and learn about issues facing pollinators including native bees.

…

You’ll learn:

How projects of all sizes can have a positive impact for pollinators
How to engage employees and community members
How to successfully overcome challenges associated with pollinator projects

Presenters:

Pamela Bachman, Environmental Strategic Engagement Lead, Bayer Crop Science
Susan Kelsey, Global Biodiversity Program Manager, Sustainable Workplaces, General Motors
Dave Weydert, North American Cotton Crop Lead, Bayer

Rights-of-Way Partnerships and Alliances: Addressing the Risk of the Pollinator Declines and ESA Listings

in Pollinators, Species of Concern On Demand Webinars

…
Rights-of-way offer unique conservation opportunities by connecting landscapes and providing a generally stable habitat protected from future development. The Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group, composed of multiple industries and unique partnerships, is working to support pollinators and other wildlife, inspired by the population declines in insect pollinator species and the potential listing of the monarch butterfly under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The group is currently working on a voluntary agreement to enhance and sustain monarch butterfly habitat, and in turn will receive regulatory assurances that no additional management activities will be required if the butterfly becomes listed.

During this webinar you’ll learn:

How ESA tools like Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAA) can be used to provide important conservation that may influence future ESA listing decisions
What is included in the National Monarch Butterfly CCAA for Energy and Transportation Lands
Ways partners can engage in the CCAA effort and benefits of participating now

Presenters:

Iris Caldwell, Program Manager- Sustainable Landscapes, Energy Resources Center, University of Illinois at Chicago
Dan Salas, Senior Ecologist, Cardno
Laurel Hill, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

in Awareness and Community Engagement, Bats On Demand Webinars

Be a Bat Hero: Planning for Bat Week

…

Mark your calendars for Bat Week and “Be a Bat Hero!”

This webinar will provide you with all the tools you need to join the celebration with WHC and our Bat Week partners and help increase awareness about bats.

You’ll learn:

The importance of bats to our ecosystems
Strategies to protect bats and enhance their natural habitats
Fun and educational ideas to engage both children and adults in bat conservation
Free resources available for use at Bat Week events
Ways to spread the word about your Bat Week event on social media

Presenters:

Mylea Bayless, Senior Director, Network and Partnerships, Bat Conservation International
Catherine Hibbard, Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Thelma Redick, Senior Director, Content and Partnerships, Wildlife Habitat Council
Kimberly Winter, Nature Watch Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service