Grassland quality and pollinator habitat across southwest Louisiana
Dates
Start Date
2016
End Date
2017-07-31
Summary
Over the past few decades, there has been a significant loss of pollinators, including honey bees, native bees, birds, bats, and butterflies (Committee on the Status of Pollinators in North America 2007). The problem is serious and requires immediate attention to ensure the sustainability of our food production systems, avoid additional economic impacts, and protect the health of our ecosystems. On June 20, 2014, President Obama issued a Presidential memorandum entitled “Creating a Federal Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators.” In response to the President’s memorandum, the Louisiana Federal Pollinator Partnership was formed by the USGS, EPA, NRCS, and the FWS. The partnership is working together to protect, [...]
Summary
Over the past few decades, there has been a significant loss of pollinators, including honey bees, native bees, birds, bats, and butterflies (Committee on the Status of Pollinators in North America 2007). The problem is serious and requires immediate attention to ensure the sustainability of our food production systems, avoid additional economic impacts, and protect the health of our ecosystems. On June 20, 2014, President Obama issued a Presidential memorandum entitled “Creating a Federal Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators.” In response to the President’s memorandum, the Louisiana Federal Pollinator Partnership was formed by the USGS, EPA, NRCS, and the FWS. The partnership is working together to protect, enhance and restore pollinator habitat in Southwest Louisiana using a multi facet approach including public education and outreach, public-private partnerships, and best science and information available to inform the process. Some of the USGS objectives within this partnership are to develop spatial datasets which a) identify the historical range of coastal prairie, b) identify areas of source pollinator populations, and c) rank areas to target for pollinator enhancement projects within the historical range of coastal prairie.
