"If the bee disappeared off the face of the earth, man would only have four years left to live."
― Maurice Maeterlinck, The Life of the Bee
The world’s ecosystems are at a crossroads. Loss of habitat, industrial agriculture and the explosive growth of the human population has dramatically reduced the places pollinators can live and grow.
Without pollinators, the human race and all of earth’s terrestrial ecosystems would not survive. Of the 1,400 crop plants grown around the world, almost 80% require pollination by animals. Visits from bees and other pollinators also result in larger, more flavorful fruits and higher crop yields. In the United States alone, pollination of agricultural crops is valued at $10 billion annually. Globally, pollination services are likely worth more than $3 trillion.
https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/
While these essential pollinators have been declining, the irony is that we can easily increase pollinator habitat, simply by replacing some of the grass and non-native plants in our yards, in public spaces, and wherever living things can still grow. Toward that end, Rotary has established “Operation Pollination,” a program designed to engage both Rotarians and our broader communities in bringing back the pollinators by bringing back the plants they need to thrive.
In February 2021 Harbor Country Rotary declared its commitment to promoting the establishment of pollinator gardens throughout our communities. This website is designed to provide information to our members that will help them partner with local communities to make the vision of a restored pollinator ecosystem a reality.
Quick Links to Navigate Operation Pollination:
What are some examples of a “Pollinator?”
What is “Pollination” and why is it so Important?
What is a Pollinator Garden or Landscape?
What is the Difference Between a Butterfly and a Pollinator Garden?