Do you realize the impact humans are having on the Earth’s environment as we continue to build, build, and build without even bating an eyelash? It’s no secret that as the world continues to industrialize, more and more land has been converted into office buildings, amusement parks, and shopping malls. At what cost? Well, according to an article from The Guardian, Earth has lost about half of its wildlife over the past 45 years. One species in particular that’s included on this list are pollinators. There are about 201,000 different species of pollinators varying from vertebrates to insects (Pollination Facts, 1). Each play a vital role in the ecosystem.
We are finally starting to realize how important it is to protect our pollinators from extinction. Eleven years ago the U.S. Senate unanimously approved to designate a week in June every year to be known as “National Pollinator Week.” It has already grown into an international celebration of the valuable ecosystem services provided by pollinators such as: bees, birds, butterflies, and beetles. This year the Pollinator Partnership is proud to announce that June 18th-24th, 2018 has been designated as National Pollinator Week!
The majority of pollinators are considered to be keystone species, which means that they are critical to an ecosystem. This is because pollinators play a vital role in the life cycle of all flowering plants. They transfer pollen from one flower to another flower, of the same species, and fertilize the plant in the process. About 75% of all flowering plant species need help transporting their pollen grains in order for fertilization to occur. Without pollinators, many plant species wouldn’t be able to reproduce and survive. This would lead to a trickle down effect on every other level of the ecosystem.
Many animals, such as humans, rely on the oxygen plants release during photosynthesis in order to breathe. Also, many foods and beverages contain ingredients produced by the plants and crops that rely on pollinators. An estimated 1/3 of all foods and beverages in the world are delivered by pollinators, and in the U.S. alone, pollination produces nearly $20 billion worth of products annually. All of these facts were found on pollinator.org from an article titled “Pollination Fast Facts.”
Do you now see why it’s important to spread the word about the importance of pollinators? Each year as more and more people become aware of National Pollinator Week, more efforts, funds, and resources can be put towards protecting these magnificent creatures.
Don’t be afraid to start growing your own plants to help support the pollinators! Blain’s Farm & Fleet has everything you need to start your own garden. Check out farmandfleet.com and shop for lawn and garden supplies, garden tools, plants, bulbs, seeds, and much more. Also, don’t be afraid to help provide a safe home for the bees this summer and enjoy some homemade honey in the process. Blain’s Farm & Fleet has all of the beekeeping supplies you possibly need to make this happen. You can also find beekeeping guide’s and how-to’s on our beekeeping blog.
