Reducing Risk to Pollinators from Pesticides

This is a resource for people interested in promoting the protection of pollinators and the vital ecosystem services they provide through responsible use, or avoidance, of pesticides.

What You Can Do!

Use this website to find the information you need BEFORE applying pesticides! If the information you require cannot be found through the links on this website, contact us at info@nappc.org for more assistance.

Pollinator Decline

We tend to take pollinators, and the fundamental service they provide, for granted. As a consequence, many species of pollinator are in decline due to a number of causes; a reality that threatens the foundation of virtually every ecosystem in the world. Most significant among the threats are: loss of habitat, introduction of alien species, and misuse of pesticides.

Although we often assume that farmers and forest managers are the biggest users of pesticides, urban and suburban yards make up a significant proportion of the land that undergoes regular application of pesticides. Frequently pesticides in noncommercial settings are applied by individuals who lack pesticide applicator training or have not properly reviewed the precautions listed on the pesticide label. This can have extremely negative consequences for beneficial insects such as pollinators, wildlife that depend on the plants they pollinate – for food and shelter, and for our own human health and safety.

Links:

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Pesticide Use in Urban & Suburban Landscapes

Pesticide Use in Agriculture

Pesticide Use on Rangelands

Pesticide Use in Forests

Pesticide Use on Wetlands

This information was assembled by NAPPC’s EPA PESP Task Force in 2004-2005.

For more information of the Environmental Protection Agency, visit their website: www.epa.gov

Development of this website

Problems with Website Links: E-mail the webmaster if you find any incorrect links, and we will do our best to update them.