You may already be aware that pollinators are important to everyone on the planet.
But did you know that one in every three bites of food is made possible by native pollinators?
Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, flies, bats and hummingbirds transfer pollen between flowers and other plants, helping them grow and produce the fruit and vegetables we all eat — and that our beloved pets eat.
“The Nature Conservancy works around the globe to protect pollinators from challenges such as the loss and degradation of habitat, climate change and more,” Chris Helzer, director of science for the Nature Conservancy in Nebraska said. “By partnering with Beyond and being a part of Project Blossom, we are advancing our work to support a healthy planet for pollinators and all the other species we rely on for a healthy ecosystem.”
1. Learn
Kids find pollinators fascinating, and there’s a lot to learn about what they do for our ecosystem.
• Visit The Nature Conservancy website as a starting point to discover more about how pollinators work.
• Check out other websites, books or local outdoor gardens to explore native plants and pollinators that live in your area.
• Make a list, map and/or photo project to describe what kinds of pollinators help which plants grow in your region.
• Seek out resources to learn more about different types of pollinators and the threats they face. For example, when most people talk about bees, they assume honeybee, but there are more than 5,000 species of bees found in North America alone that need our support.