Connect DNR, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and MnDOT on research about roadside pollinator habitat by U of M College of Biological Sciences Associate Professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Emilie Snell-Rood. Other ideas: 1) Strategically align pollinator work and connect with the newly established US Fish and Wildlife Center for Pollinator Conservation; 2) Model the Washington state strategy to protect state and federally recognized bumble bee species of conservation concern; 3) Provide soft landings for pollinators under tree plantings on state land (www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com/; 4) Work with Minnesota organic apple orchards to expand pollinator habitat surrounding orchards; 5) Designate a Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Day during National Pollinator Week; 6) Work with the MPCA and local watershed associations on outreach about native pollinator plants to reduce flooding; 7) Work with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to promote and support the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation Bee Better Certified program with MN farmers; 8) Create an online learning series with past Lawns to Legumes awardees about tips, lessons learned, etc.

Under 1.1.3 or 1.2 an enact action-- "Increase capacity to conduct long-term management of existing pollinator habitat on public land and private land easements." There are a lot of great action ideas for installation of new habitat in underutilized spaces, enhancing degraded or marginal habitat, and addressing current habitat problem areas (e.g. seed availability. However the benefits of restoration and permanent protection of land to pollinators are lessened if there aren't enough people to conduct or facilitate the long term, continual management needed to maintain pollinator habitat quality. "Management" per se may be implicit to some of the actions covering restoration/enhancement, but given capacity for habitat quality evaluation is called out in 1.2.2 it seems reasonable to also include an explicit call for increased capacity for habitat quality management, which is another big bottleneck faced by land managing entities. A lot of land, not enough people to steward it sufficiently. In addition to capacity, using the action framework to promote the importance of and need for allocating funding toward continued management on land that's already been restored (and may be pretty good quality!) vs. the historic bias toward funding the initial restoration/enhancement work could also be valuable.

Per the University of Minnesota and Michigan State University, pollinator habitat on golf courses is about as successful as that of other parks and cemeteries and superior to industrial and residential areas. Audubon International works with golf managers to increase environmental practices at golf courses - so far, 20 MN courses are certified. The State might work in partnership with these folks to encourage pollinator habitat at golf course gardens and roughs. See https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/articles/2020/10/milestone-course-environment-study-usga-minnesota-michigan-state.html, https://auduboninternational.org/acsp-for-golf/.

A better, integrated communications plan

appropriate bedding plant sales

I see so many new housing developments being built on farmland and none of them have trees going in. This seems a huge missed opportunity. Trees are good not just for pollinators, but they are sorts of other environmental benefits and aren't particularly expensive to install.

Science education is heavily animal-based, but without a knowledge of plants, kids (and adults for that matter) are left without a full picture of how to help pollinators. Consider teaching some botany and plant identification to kids and how native plants are necessary for native pollinators and why pollinators are necessary for pretty much everything we care about.

Invasive plant species can easily outcompete native plants if not managed properly and they're not as helpful to pollinators as native plants. While it's impractical to manage them everywhere, identifying areas that would provide the most bang for your buck in terms of helping pollinators and then managing invasives would be good.

Put together a team to go through all the local, county and state level relevant zoning, ordinances and regulations aka 'weed police enforcement' and meet with the agencies with jurisdiction to fix the language wherever it conflicts or inhibits the growth of pollinator habitat. Many would be happy to grow something besides turf lawn and green meatball shrubs but are afraid of running afoul of rules&regs so let's find ways to clarify in ways that help, not discourage the variety of gardens that we say we want.

Education will never be as effective as the pocket book or bottom line. As long as there is money to be made, people will act, no matter the unintended negative consequences. Education is great, but constructing barriers, removing incentives, and adding disincentives or penalties will be more effective. Legislators and policy makers need to look very carefully and honestly at the values their policies really endorse.

Outlaw the use of lawn fertilizers and pest/herbicides for all applications, not just residential, but definitely residential also. If we don't want to disrupt the industry, then we have to question where our values really lie.

Regenerative Agriculture

City ordinances related to the maintenance of turf-grass are outdated and do not align with the state and county’s climate action plans, nor their aims to protect biodiversity and pollinators. Many who live in the suburbs are required to have turf grass and face obstacles when seeking to implement alternatives that are more pollinator friendly. No Mow May is a great initiative, but it sadly falls short when the grass all gets mowed in June. In the end, it’s still turf grass that covers our property, unless we go through the effort of turning our yards into native pocket-prairies (I have, and it’s amazing), which can bring its own set of questions about what is allowed in our respective cities. Our ordinances need to reflect what our climate action plans and pollinator protection plans advocate for.

Put retail avail. 'cides behind the counter such as @ pharmacy or the paint counter at the local big box hardware store -- similarly making sure a trained pro behind the counter can inform/advise purchasers and screen for potential abuses, overuse or mis-use of chem. warfare

Perhaps banning the chemicals (individuals or classes) due to their inherent harm to the natural world and humans (a public safety and ecological approach) rather than banning “pesticide use” outright would be a better approach. I think the pushback from pest control companies would be bigger with the latter approach, and all sorts of lawsuits claiming we are stifling the market and their profitability might ensue. By using the first approach, the companies would first have to prove the harmlessness of their chemical compounds, which would be difficult to do. Complement this with educational outreach to the public about the harms of pesticides, as well as proven methods of pollinator-friendly and integrated pest management strategies.

Ensure MDA enforcement of current pesticide and herbicide laws for the safety of habitat and water quality. We support the ban of neonics and other harmful chemicals that are known health risks to humans and pollinators.

Examples - not all knotweed leaves need to be treated - could just a few of the lower leaves be treated rather than all of the leaves? For basal bark treatments, must the entire lower part of woody invasive stems be treated or could less area be treated? There are many more examples with many species.

Use a community based social marketing approach to understand what motivates residents to use pesticides. Then develop a program (similar to smart salting and adopt-a-drain) that fosters sustainable behavior addressing the barriers and benefits identified in the research.

Have places for people to share seeds they have collected and get seeds from others on websites, public parks and picnic grounds, libraries, festivals, county fairs, etc.

Put more pollinator-friendly gardens in public spaces, but especially in the low-income neighborhoods that are historically left out of these sorts of initiatives. Parts of the Twin Cities like Edina or Uptown or around the Chain of Lakes have plenty of examples of pollinator gardens to look at, but how many are present in North Minneapolis or Cedar Riverside? Those are the communities which could benefit from increases in pollinator-friendly landscaping, plus the accompanying information about why it’s beneficial, and resources on how to implement it in a cost-friendly way or through the grant programs.

Encourage cities to create ordinances that allow for creativity in public and private spaces to protect pollinators, and to cut down on pesticides and mowing. Provide financial resources to cities who want to plant more pollinator and habitat friendly areas of their land.

There are many existing organizations with robust educational outreach programs on pollinators. Partner with these organizations and provide them financial support to increase their capacity and reach to educate Minnesotans on pollinators. Lawns to Legumes partnership with Blue Thumb is a great example. repeated from key question 1.

Expand the State Forest Nursery to include growing native nectar and pollinator host plants. Alternatively, establish a state prairie nursery.