Number: 2015-07
WHEREAS, recent scientific data from many public, private and academic sources show significant declines of the populations of many native, plant-pollinating insects, such as bees butterflies, and other pollinators, including birds and bats, in North America and elsewhere; and
WHEREAS, having a sufficient number of plant-pollinating insects and other pollinators is necessary for the health of major North American ecosystems, water quality, air quality, coastal stability and wildlife populations; and
WHEREAS, the North American scientific community attributes this decline in the number of pollinators to multiple factors including habitat modification and clearing, reductions of the availability of native food plants, use of insecticides and herbicides, truncation and interruption of migratory routes and other physical, chemical and biological factors; and
WHEREAS, one-third of the nation’s food crop is dependent upon insect and other pollinators, the decline in pollinators is a major threat to our nation’s food supply, as well as a long-term threat to the future of our agricultural economy; and
WHEREAS, the President of the United States has issued a Memorandum, June 20, 2014 to federal public agencies and a request to other public agencies, nongovernmental organizations, private businesses, volunteer groups and individuals to take needed steps to reverse this decline in pollinator populations; and
WHEREAS, such steps can include a variety of measures such as, but not limited to changes in agricultural and forestry policy and practices, land planning, planting more native pollinator food plants on public lands and along public transportation routes, an increase of the use of native plants in private gardening practices; and
WHEREAS, bee, butterfly, and other pollinator abundance in public and private landscapes are an indicator of biodiversity, are aesthetically pleasing and engage people of all backgrounds as an accessible way to connect and support wildlife where they live, work, play, learn and worship; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Federation, its state and territorial affiliated organizations and other partners working together with the public and private sectors can make a significant impact on increasing and sustaining populations of North American pollinators;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Wildlife Federation at its annual meeting assembled in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, March 27-29, 2015, supports increasing and, in the long term, sustaining pollinator populations such as bees, butterflies and other species through a variety of means including scientific assessment, policy and practice reforms, monitoring, public/private partnerships, public education, grassroots activation, volunteer program development, species-specific campaigns and home, school and community initiated habitats.