[RP TownTalk] [Fwd: [NAFEX] CONGRESSES FIRST REACTION TO THE MISSING BEES

Sun May 27 13:12:18 UTC 2007

Regina, we've heard that one suspect cause of the rather sudden
disappearance of the honeybee is the proliferation of cell phones. I guess
others are blaming "global warming". Are you following the scientific
discussion on this?

I guess the hope of this bill is to diversify beyond the honeybee, and use
other (native) species to do the job of crop pollination?

On 5/26/07, Regina M. Kreger <regina at kreger.net> wrote:
>
>  I don't know how many of you are aware of the serious crisis (crises,
> really, plural) that has hit the honeybee population in recent years, or how
> it affects agriculture worldwide, the worldwide food supply. .... This is
> very important, whether you're interested in agriculture or ecology.  Please
> help me to encourage our MD senators to co-sponsor this bill.  It is good
> stuff.  Contact me if you want more information.
>
> Regina Kreger
> 5903 Cleveland Ave, Riverdale Park
>
> -------- Original Message --------  Subject: [NAFEX] CONGRESSES FIRST
> REACTION TO THE MISSING BEES  Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 11:34:02 -0500  From:
> MARIE ASHTON <bwoodtx at verizon.net> <bwoodtx at verizon.net>  Reply-To: North
> American Fruit Explorers <nafex at lists.ibiblio.org><nafex at lists.ibiblio.org>  To:
> North American Fruit Explorers <nafex at lists.ibiblio.org><nafex at lists.ibiblio.org>
>
> Below is a press release from the Xerces Society about a bill introduced
> in the Senate called: Pollinator Habitat Protection Act of 2007:
>
>
> For Immediate Release:
>
> Date May 24, 2007
>
>
>
> Contacts: Scott Hoffman Black, Executive Director Xerces Society:
>
> 503-449-3792 sblack at xerces.org
>
> Brandon Willis, Aide to Senator Baucus: (202-224-6350)
>
> Brandon_Willis at baucus.senate.gov
>
>
>
> Pollinator Habitat Protection Act of 2007 Introduced into the Senate
>
>
>
> Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) and Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) along with 28
> other co-sponsors introduced the Pollinator Protection Act of 2007 into the
> Senate today. This bill allows existing conservation programs to provide
> enhanced habitat for pollinators.
>
>
>
> The European honey be is – and will continue to be – the most important
> single crop pollinator in the United States. However, with the decline in
> the number of managed honey bee colonies form diseases, parasitic mites, and
> Africanized bees – as well as from Colony Collapse Disorder – it is
> important to increase the use of native bees in our agricultural system as
> well. Providing habitat for these pollinators is vital to this effort.
>
>
>
> The Pollinator Protection Act of 2007 is aimed at improving habitat and
> food sources for pollinators. This bill utilizes existing Farm Bill
> conservation programs to strengthen both native and managed pollinator
> habitat. It does not cost additional money, or create a new program. It
> simply requires existing conservation programs to acknowledge pollinator
> habitat as a conservation resource and rewards producers whose conservation
> practices are beneficial for pollinators.
>
>
>
> "This bill can help to improve crop security and the sustainability of
> agriculture, by helping farmers in the Untied States diversity their
> pollinator portfolio" said Scott Hoffman Black, executive director of the
> Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. "The Pollinator Protection Act
> of 2007 will provide incentives to encourage farmers to improve habitat for
> both native and managed pollinators."
>
>
>
> Hundreds of species of native bees are available for crop pollination.
> Research from across the country demonstrates that a wide range of native
> bees help with crop pollination, in some cases providing all the pollination
> required. These free, unmanaged bees provide a valuable service, estimated
> recently by scientists from the Xerces Society and Cornell University to be
> worth $3 billion annually in the U.S.
>
>
>
> "Almost all or our pollination eggs are in the honey bee basket" says Mace
> Vaughan, conservation director of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate
> Conservation. "The Pollinator Protection Act of 2007 will put habitat on the
> ground for bumble bees, sweat bees, mason bees, squash bees, sunflower bees,
> miner bees and also support honey bees. This bill strengthens and adds
> pollinator baskets for agriculture."
>
>
>
> Pollinator Protection Act of 2007
>
> Conserving America's pollinators will require economic incentives for
> private landowners. On October 18, 2006, the National Academy of Sciences
> released the report Status of Pollinators in North America, which called
> attention to the decline of pollinators. Prepared by a National Research
> Council (NRC) committee, the report made several recommendations including
> urging the federal government to fund pollinator conservation through Farm
> Bill conservation and research programs.
>
>
>
> The bill would create incentives fro farmers to protect, restore and
> enhance pollinator habitat on and around farms. Pollinator Protection Act of
> 2007 would encourage state-level Natural Resources Conservation Service
> Agency (FSA) offices to promote scientifically tested and approved
> pollinator-friendly practices for farmers participating in Farm Bill
> conservation programs.
>
>
>
> Fully integrating native pollinators into Farm Bill programs can have a
> wide impact. For example, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program
> (EQIP) allocated over $1 billion in financial and technical assistance to
> farmers in 2006, and the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) retired over 36
> million acres of farmland, 4.5 million of which was specifically for
> wildlife habitat that could be tailored to provide the greatest benefit for
> pollinators.
>
>
>
> Importance of Protecting Pollinators
>
> Pollinators are essential to our environment. The ecological service they
> provide is important for the reproduction of nearly 75 percent of the
> world's flowering plants. This includes more than two-thirds of the world's
> crop species, and one in three mouthfuls of the food that we eat. The United
> States alone grows more than one hundred crops that either require or
> benefit from pollinators.
>
>
>
> Beyond agriculture, native pollinators are keystone species in most
> terrestrial ecosystems. Fruits and seeds derived from insect pollination are
> a major part of the diet of approximately 25 percent of birds, and of
> mammals ranging from deer mice to grizzly bears.
>
>
>
> Why are native bees so helpful? Collectively, native bees are more
> versatile than honey bees. Some species, such as mason bees, are active when
> conditions are too cold or wet for honey bees. Many species also are simply
> more efficient at moving pollen between flowers. Bumble bees and several
> other native species can buzz pollinate flowers – vibrating – the flower to
> release pollen from deep inside the pollen-bearing anthers – which honey
> bees cannot do. Crops such as tomatoes, cranberries and blueberries produce
> larger, more abundant fruit when buzz pollinated.
>
>
>
> The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
>
> The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international
> non-profit organization that protects the diversity of life through the
> conservation of invertebrates. The Society advocates for invertebrates and
> their habitats by working with scientists, land manager, educators, and
> citizens on conservation and education projects. It core programs focus on
> endangered species, native pollinators and watershed health.
>
>
>
> For more information on pollinator conservation go to: www.xerces.org
>
>
>
> Pollinator Habitat Protection Act of 2007 Cosponsors
>
>
>
> Sponsor: Bacus, Max – (D-MT)
>
>    1. Chambliss, Saxby (R-GA)
>    2. Grassley, Chuck – (R-IA)
>    3. Landrieu, Mary L. – (D-LA)
>    4. Nelson, Bill – (D-FL)
>    5. Isakson, Johnny – (R-GA)
>    6. Craig, Larry E. – (R-ID)
>    7. Casey, Robert P., Jr. – (D-PA)
>    8. Dorgan, Byron L. – (D-ND)
>    9. Feinstein, Dianne – (D-CA)
>    10. Clinton, Hillary Rodham – (D-NY)
>    11. Brown, Sherrod – (D –OH)
>    12. Harkin, Tom – (D-IA)
>    13. Kerry, John F. – (D-MA)
>    14. Allard, Wayne – (R-CO)
>    15. Collins, Susan M. – (R-ME)
>    16. Byrd, Robert C. – (D-WV)
>    17. Thune, John – (R-SD)
>    18. Boxer, Barbara – (D-CA)
>    19. Tester, Jon – (D-WI)
>    20. Feingold, Russell D. – (D-WI
>    21. Sanders, Bernard – (I – VT)
>    22. Snowe, Olympia J. – (R-ME)
>    23. Cochran, Thad – (R-MS)
>    24. Nelson, E. Benjamin – (D-NE)
>    25. Roberts, Pat – (R-KS)
>    26. Salazar, Ken – (D-CO)
>    27. Crapo, Mike – (R-ID)
>    28. Stabenow, Debbie – (D-MI)
>    29. Conrad, Kent – (D-ND)
>
>
>
>
>
> The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
>
> The Xerces Society is an international nonprofit organization that
> protects the diversity of like through invertebrate conservation. To join
> the Society, make a contribution, or read about our work, please visit
> www.xerces.org.
>
>
>
> Matthew Shepherd
>
> Director, Pollinator Conservation Program
>
> 4828 SE Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland, OR 97215, USA
>
> Tel: 503-232 6639 Cell: 503-807 1577 Fax: 503-233 6794
>
> Email: mdshepherd at xerces.org
>
> _____________________________________________________________________
>
>
>
> In growing fruit crops the pollination aspect is very important as we all
> know. I do not know if this new program will help but maybe it will.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard Ashton
>
> Oak Creek Orchard
>
> www.oakcreekorchard.com
>
> bwoodtx at verizon.net
>
>
>
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