Enhancement and Protection of Habitat for Native Bees

Over 100 crop species in North America require insect pollinators in order to be productive. Today, many farms heavily rely upon imported honeybees to pollinate their crops.  Due to pathogens and the present malady given the name “Colony Collapse Disorder,” honeybee populations have been reduced over the last few years.  As a result, the importance of native pollinators becomes increasingly important for agriculture to meet the food production needs of our Nation and our world. Guidance for enhancing and protecting the habitat of native bees is available through Agroforestry Notes (Numbers 32, 33, 34, and 35) from the National Agroforestry Center.  The National Agroforestry Center is a partnership between the USDA Forest Service and NRCS.  Other readily-available sources of information regarding how the agricultural community can help enhance and protect habitat for native pollinators is available at  North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, Farming for Pollinators, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet Number 34, and NRCS.
Your contact is Doug Holy, National Invasive Species Specialist and NHQ Pollinator Contact, at 202-720-9096.