White House releases National Pollinator Strategy

AmericanHort, Society of American Florists, American Floral Endowment, and Horticultural Research Institute issued a joint statement supporting the national strategy. The associations state that while they are studying the details, the overall approach appears balanced and mostly sensible.

"The national strategy’s overarching goals dovetail well with the focus of the ongoing Horticultural Industry Bee and Pollinator Stewardship Program," the statement reads. "Under that initiative, we have directly funded several priority research projects, and collaborated on additional research funded by others, to provide critical scientifically sound guidance for professional horticulturists. We are developing a grower stewardship program based on best practices for protecting pollinators while managing pests. Finally, we are establishing partnerships with other agricultural, conservation, restoration, beekeeper and honey producer groups to advance the goals of improved pollinator habitat and forage."

The associations also tout the role of horticulture in providing the improved habitat and forage that are at the heart of the national strategy. Many components of the strategy target large-scale habitat restoration and federal lands.

"In these areas, the best way to support honey bees and other pollinators is to plant healthy and site-appropriate pollinator-friendly plants," the statement reads. "Professional growers of tree, plants, and flowers provide the very thing pollinators need to thrive: diverse and ample sources of forage."

The horticulture associations expressed some reservations with the national strategy on the topics of native plant exclusivity and public/private sector competition.

"With respect to activities of the Department of Interior and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, as demand increases for pollinator-friendly seeds and plants we strongly urge close collaboration with the private sector to meet growing demand," the statement reads. "Expanded government competition with the private sector is not the answer. The strategy itself (not including the appendices) uses the term “native” in the context of plants and vegetation more than 60 times. In many planting situations, like large-scale restorations, native plants may be the logical choice. In others, like managed landscapes or remediations, all site-appropriate, non-invasive pollinator-friendly plants should be embraced."

The associations applauded the strategy's calls for major commitments to research and public-private partnerships, and reiterated their support for the President’s proposed budget for expanded research conducted or funded by USDA agencies including the Agricultural Research Service and National Institute for Food and Agriculture. The associations were also pleased to acknowledge the clearly stated commitment to following the science, in regards to the EPA's pollinator protection plan.

"Emotional campaigns based on anecdotes and a few flawed studies are not a solid foundation for public policy," the release states.