Washington, DC, USA
June 3, 2015
In an unprecedented collaboration, dozens of conservation and gardening organizations, including National Garden Bureau, joined together today to form the National Pollinator Garden Network and launch a new nationwide campaign – the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge. Designed to accelerate growing efforts across America, the Network is launching the Challenge in support of President Barack Obama’s call to action to reverse the decline of pollinating insects, such as honey bees and native bees, as well as monarch butterflies. Representatives of the Network joined First Lady Michelle Obama today at the White House garden, which includes a section dedicated to support pollinators, to formally launch the Challenge.
The National Pollinator Garden Network collectively represents nearly one million active gardeners and 15,000 schoolyard gardens. The Network is challenging the nation to reach the goal of one million additional pollinator gardens by the end of 2016. The Network will work to provide resources for individuals, community groups, government agencies and the garden industry to create more pollinator habitat through sustainable gardening practices and conservation efforts.
As noted in President Obama’s 2014 Presidential Memorandum on Pollinator Health and recently released National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators, federal action combined with private sector partnerships and strong citizen engagement can restore pollinator populations to healthy levels. Pollinator gardens provide one way to reverse that decline by offering food, water, cover and places to raise young for honey bees, native bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators.
To tackle these challenges, the Network is rallying hundreds of thousands of gardeners, horticultural professionals, schools, and volunteers to help reach a million pollinator gardens over the next two years. Any individual can contribute by planting for pollinators and joining this effort to provide a million pollinator gardens across the United States. Every habitat of every size counts, from window boxes and garden plots to farm borders, golf courses, school gardens, corporate and university campuses. Everywhere we live, work, play and worship can, with small improvements, offer essential food and shelter for pollinators.
“National Garden Bureau supports gardens of all types, done by any type of gardener for any reason and gardening for the health of pollinators is a priority for NGB and our members,” said Diane Blazek, executive director of the National Garden Bureau. “We are thrilled to be part of the National Pollinator Garden Network and look forward to the day we reach one million pollinator gardens registered in the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge.”
“Bees are vital in seed and agriculture production, as well as general ecosystem health, and ensuring their wellbeing is a priority,” said Andrew W. LaVigne, president and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association. “ASTA’s diverse membership includes companies with expertise in the production of seed for pollinator forage and health. We look forward to working in tandem with the White House and members of the National Pollinator Garden Network to increase the outreach and education of this important initiative.”
“Horticulture has a huge opportunity to be part of the solution to the threats facing pollinators, and we look forward to working together to meet the challenge,” said Michael Geary, president and CEO of AmericanHort.
Full list of National Pollinator Garden Network partner organizations:
- America In Bloom
- American Horticultural Society
- American Public Gardens Association
- American Seed Trade Association
- AmericanHort
- Captain Planet Foundation
- Home Garden Seed Association
- Keep America Beautiful
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Monarch Watch
- National Environmental Education Foundation
- National Gardening Association
- National Garden Bureau
- National Garden Clubs, Inc.
- National Recreation and Park Association
- National Wildlife Federation
- North American Butterfly Association
- Pollinator Partnership
- Society of American Florists
- USDA People’s Garden
- Wild Ones
- Wildlife Habitat Council
- Xerces Society for Invertebrate Biology
Learn more at www.millionpollinatorgardens.org and join the discussion on Social Media through the hashtag #PolliNation.
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