Glossary
An overview of the global pollinator decline crisis, covering the primary threats (habitat loss, pesticides, disease, climate change), the economic importance of pollination services, and practical actions individuals and communities can take to support pollinator populations.
Pollinators (bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies, beetles, hummingbirds, bats) are declining worldwide. Managed honey bee colonies in the US have declined from 6 million in 1947 to approximately 2.7 million. Wild bee species are disappearing at alarming rates, with some bumble bee species declining by over 90 percent.
The causes are synergistic: habitat loss (conversion of wildflower meadows to agriculture and development), pesticide exposure (neonicotinoids and other systemic insecticides), disease and parasites (varroa mites, nosema), and climate change (disrupting bloom timing and pollinator emergence synchrony).
Plant pollinator gardens: diverse flowering plants providing continuous bloom from spring through fall. Include native plants adapted to your region. Avoid hybrid ornamentals with minimal nectar/pollen. A single backyard garden provides meaningful foraging resources.
Reduce or eliminate pesticide use in your yard. Buy local honey (supports beekeepers who maintain pollinator populations). Support farms practicing pollinator-friendly agriculture. Advocate for pollinator habitat in public spaces.
No. While honey bees receive the most attention, thousands of native bee species, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, hummingbirds, and bats provide essential pollination services. Some crops (tomatoes, blueberries) are more effectively pollinated by native bees than by honey bees.
Pollinator-dependent crops are valued at $235-577 billion annually worldwide. In the US alone, honey bee pollination services are valued at approximately $15 billion annually. One-third of every bite of food relies on pollinator activity.
Absolutely. Planting diverse flowering plants, reducing pesticide use, providing water sources, leaving some yard areas wild, and supporting local conservation organizations all contribute meaningfully to pollinator survival. You do not need to be a beekeeper to help pollinators.
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