Search Results

Have you spotted any blooming willows yet this spring? As Keystone Plants, native willows are extremely valuable for wildlife. Entomologist Douglas Tallamy ranks native willows as the number two woody plant family – after oaks – in their ability to support lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). And according to Dr. Robert Gegear of the Beecology Project, early-blooming native willows are important nectar and pollen sources for at-risk bee and butterfly species. So how can we incorporate more of these beautiful and critically important native trees and shrubs into our landscapes? Naturalist Cathy Smith has the answers here. .

Native wildflower gardening is more popular than ever. But a century ago, it was practically unheard of. Wildflowers persist in the numbers they do today because of the activism and research of a group of women ecologists who defied gender norms and founded the discipline of ecological restoration. Read more from this article in Sierra.

If it's still cold and wintery where you are, winter seed sowing might be the perfect project! You can sow seeds directly into your garden beds or into flats or recycled translucent plastic jugs to be left outside while it’s still cold out. Check out these winter seed sowing basics to get you started! As shown in the photos, you can get creative with your containers! Donna Merrill, the President of the Pollinator Pathway, collected plastic containers from the grocery store and used a hot nail to melt the plastic to create drainage holes. Then she closed the containers and placed them outside, next to her house. The seeds used include New England Liatris, Monarda Punctata and Purple Aster. Stick around to see how they grow throughout the next few months!

. In December governments from across the globe met for two weeks in Montreal to plan new actions this decade to halt the loss of wildlife habitat and global biodiversity. A UN report on the event states, "Nature is critical to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals and limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. Adoption of a bold global biodiversity framework that addresses the key drivers of nature loss is needed to secure our own health and well-being alongside that of the planet." Though the United States sent a delegation to COP15, unfortunately, we are the only country besides the Vatican's Holy See to fail to ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity, the global agreement that has emerged from the UN Conferences on Biodiversity. Here is a look at why. This report confirms the importance of what you are all doing to help protect, restore and connect habitat for pollinators! We are on all part of the solution.

Leave the leaves where you can! Rake them to the edges of your yard and onto your garden beds or leave them where they fall until spring. They are home to so many over-wintering pollinators. Most importantly, avoid the use of gas blowers which destroy their habitat, pollute the air, and create harmful levels of noise--which harm human ears but also disrupt wildlife. The organization Quiet Communities has helped many of the 200 communities that have restricted the use of gas leaf blowers.

Donate Here! Our vision is a world that celebrates and supports connected, healthy habitats for pollinators. Your donation will support our network of nearly 300 Pollinator Pathway communities--towns, cities, counties--working to plant native plants and encourage pesticide-free care of the land and a rethinking of lawn culture. If you would like to support our advocacy work to restrict neonicotinoid pesticides, please let us know by adding a note: For Pesticide Reform Advocacy Fund. Thank You! Your support will help us continue to grow the network of Pathways connecting public and private properties to create corridors of healthy habitat for pollinators and the wildlife and human life that depend on them. Help us reach across boundaries to start and continue conversations about protecting and restoring wildlife habitat and biodiversity! Send your check payable to Pollinator Pathway to PO Box 33, Wilton, CT 06897 or Donate HERE.

Learn about neonicotinoid pesticides, how they are harming the environment, and what you can do to help advocate for restricting them. Watch HERE More information on these pesticides: How Neonicotinoids Can Kill Bees, the Xerces Society Bigger Than Bees: How Neonics Contaminate Water, Threaten Ecosystems, and Cause Human Health Concerns in New York, NRDC When Voluntary Action Isn’t Enough: The Case For Regulating Pesticide-Coated Seed , the Xerces Society. What States Have Restrictions in Place or Bills Pending, the Pollinator Pathway

Join the Pollinator Pathway and NRDC for a talk on the science behind threats posed by neonicotinoid pesticides (“neonics”) to pollinators, biodiversity, and our own health as well as neonics’ surprising prevalence in our environment. The popular pesticides contaminate soil, water, and plant life on a nearly unprecedented scale, driving mass losses of birds and bees, and raising alarm bells for a whole host of wildlife, clean water, and human health. The webinar will also provide information on legislation we can impact—most importantly right now the New York Birds & Bees Protection Act— a New York bill that would eliminate the vast majority of neonics entering New York’s environment by prohibiting wasteful and unnecessary neonic uses, and could serve as model legislation for other states. Join us on Zoom Dec 1, 6:30 PM eastern time to hear from our speakers and learn how your community can help protect pollinators from these pesticides. Register here. Speakers: Dan Raichel is Acting Director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Pollinator initiative, which focuses on protecting our nation’s bee populations from the ever-growing threats to their health and existence—in particular, the use of bee-toxic pesticides. Raichel was formerly co-director of NRDC’s Community Fracking Defense Project and an advocate for the cleanup of industrial pollution in the New York region. Dr. Kathleen Nolan is a pediatrician, President of the Physicians for Social Responsibility, New York Chapter, and Senior Research Director at Catskill Mountainkeeper. Over the past three decades, as a doctor and bioethicist, she has served Ulster County and the Catskills by focusing on public health and the environment—playing an important role in achieving New York State’s pioneering ban on fracking by helping to compile and provide data on health harms associated with the practice to decisionmakers. Kathy majored in philosophy and theology at Saint Louis University and graduated with honors, and received her medical degree, along with a Masters of Studies in Law, from Yale University.

Now that we are into late summer, chances of seeing the invasive pest called the Spotted Lanternfly are best, as these leaf hoppers are in their adult stage. Spotted Lanternflies were first found in Pennsylvania in 2014, and although populations are expanding into New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and beyond, it’s a good idea to refrain from immediately rushing to spray pesticides which could be harmful to pollinators, pets and people. Here is more information about the SLF as well as non-chemical methods for control. (Photo of adult SLF: Michigan State University)

Order NWF pollinator plant kits HERE! Read more about this federal program and other efforts to plant for pollinators nationally, regionally (through the Pollinator Pathway) and locally HERE.

Have you completed a habitat restoration project designed to improve connectivity for pollinators or other wildlife species? Pollinator Pathway is collaborating with Follow the Forest and other connectivity initiatives throughout the Northeast to collect your stories. We hope to learn from the work you’ve done, build upon our networks, and spotlight your stories on our websites, social media pages, and promotional materials. Examples of restoration efforts improving pollinator pathways and terrestrial or aquatic connectivity include: · Creating pollinator gardens from native plants, · Invasive species removal, · Working with your neighbors to spread local awareness of connectivity needs, · Reforestation efforts, · Advocating for more green spaces in your town / working with your planning and zoning board to create infrastructure that poses fewer stressors to migrating wildlife, · Barrier removal in streams to improve fish passage etc. Have you completed any of these types of projects? This can be on your own land, in your town, or in partnership with an environmental organization or other entity. What inspired you to undertake the project? Who did you collaborate with? What were the challenges you encountered and what did you learn from the experience? Did you receive funding to complete this project? Ideally, these stories would be in the form of a short blog post about 300-500 words long with a few images included. In the interest of time, however, you can also send us bullet points or an existing document or press release outlining your project and a contact name for quotes. Please email your stories to Follow the Forest’s Paul Mailhot-Singer at paul.mailhotsinger@gmail.com. Ideally, we would like to receive submissions before 9/1, but we are open to content at any time. We will likely include some stories right away and then add more over time.