Buzz - Pollinator Partnership

Buzz Across theNation in Support ofHighways BEE ActIntroduction of the Highways Betteringthe Environment (BEE) Act (H.R. 2381) inJune, during 2011 Pollinator Week, was animportant benchmark in the three-year effortby the Pollinator Partnership to “pollinate”federal transportation law. Highway rightof-waysmanaged by State Departments ofTransportation represent 17 million acres ofopportunity for cash-strapped States to bothsave money and improve pollinator habitatthrough Integrated Vegetation Management(IVM), including reduced mowing and strategicplantings of native forbs and grasses. H.R.2381 directs the Secretary of Transportation touse existing authorities, programs and fundingto assist IVM and pollinator habitat efforts byState DOT’s.Lead sponsors are pollinator advocates AlceeL. Hastings (D-FL) and Timothy V. Johnson(R-IL). Rep. Hastings said, “Many conservationapproaches are viewed as adding costs – thismeasure is designed to help cash-strappedstates reduce roadside maintenance costs,while providing habitat for pollinators and otherbenefits. Everyone wins; we save money, andthe safety of our nation’s highways is enhanced.Rep Johnson noted, “Our bill’s approach is tohelp States reduce roadside maintenance costswhile providing better habitat for pollinatorssimilarto farmers being good conservationistswhile they produce our food. Neighboringfarmers will benefit from improved ag pollinationservices.”The Pollinator Partnership worked closely withthe original sponsors to develop the legislation.A group letter facilitated by the P2has beensigned by 27 diverse national organizationsrepresenting beekeepers, gardeners, farmersand conservation groups, as well as businessesincluding Blue Diamond Growers, Lafarge andWaste Management. The letter has also beensigned by 46 researcher scientists, 175 othernational and regional organizations and over1,500 individuals.What can you do? Find out more and signthe group letter atwww.pollinator.org/BEEAct.htmLaurie and ChickAdamsStephen AkesonAlmond Board ofCaliforniaAmerican BeekeepingFederationAtherton GardenGuildJulie BakerHolly BartholmaiBASF CorporationBee-Alive, Inc.Gus and Kay BenzJohn BirkmireEmily S BrighamRob BrownChristina BrownlowDanika BurrBurt FamilyFoundationBurt’s BeesEllen CalderazzoMary CefaluJuanita ColeThe ConservationFundCropLife AmericaPatrick de FreitasRachel EdelsonSusan EllisFred EltringhamHerbert EnglishmanA Big Buzzing Thank You toour WONDERFUL SUPPORTERS!Over the past 6 months we’ve received donations from:The Buzz is published by the PollinatorPartnership and mailed to all of our donors andinterested friends of pollinators.This issue is also available at our Web Site atwww.pollinator.org.Board of DirectorsRoger Lang, ChairmanBradley A. Stirn,Vice ChairmanGladys Phillips-Evans,Ph.D., TreasurerLaurie Davies Adams,Board SecretaryJennifer BouldenMartin RosenMark Moffett, Ph.D.Erica SwansonTalisman FarmCarolyn FoleyJennifer FordFritinancy BeeCompanyAmy GanguliJudy GehrigLaura GleesonGordon A. GrantGreat NorthernRoasting Co. LLCAdrienne GunstReta GuttmanPam and LeeHalesDoug and MarieHolemAnn HouleChuck HurdKarrie HyattJohn IversElena JoveJuly KelleySuzanne KopturRebecca KriegRenay LangRoger LangJacquie and MartyLiptonKaren LundyLiza JaneMacNaughtonKristi Dimond MaherScience AdvisorsMay Berenbaum, Ph.D.Adrian Forsyth, Ph.D.Daniel Janzen, Ph.D.Don Kennedy, Ph.D.E.O. Wilson, Ph.D.Peter Raven, Ph.D.Marykay MarksAlden MarshallChristine MartinovichMaureen MaxwellRichard D. McClureJo McDowellApril MooreNational Council ofFarmer CooperativesNational FarmersUnionSusan NicholasNufarm Americas INCOrganic MonitorAddie PalmerDavid PantelemonKimberly ParedesJay ParsonsJohn PalencharPG&EPretty PatiosLaurel PrzybylskiDonna RatiganAshby RemleyHolly RicePaul RosenblumWalter RosleyDiane RuthThe Samuel RobertsNoble FoundationStephen SchneiderJulia SerencesStephen ShochetWe’re busy as bees producing The Buzz.Executive DirectorLaurie Davies AdamsDesignSunny BoydNational AdvisorsDavid Anderson, P.C.Peter CarpenterYvon ChouinardWilliam ConwayJoan Ganz CooneyAnne EhrlichPaul J. Growald,Chair Emeritus andFounderNancy StanisRobert B. StrausKatherine SuenderEmily SullivanPaulette and JohnTaylorGeorge ThompsonLinda UsherValent CorporationCarol WadeKate WagemanJohn L. & KathrynEditorsP2 StaffA. WagnerVirginia WalkerElizabeth MarieWamplerBarbara WampoleWaste ManagementWhole Foods MarketWildlife HabitatCouncilUSGAVicki WilhiteShannon YearwoodAnn YoungGary ZamzowCarolyn ZwickerPublic Affairs DirectorTom Van ArsdallIra Michael HeymanScott McVayWill RogersPeter SeligmannMartha StewartJerry ToneChuck WilliamsFall/Winter 2011 3