Minnesota's Pollinator Action Framework
Consultation has concluded
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Thank you to everyone who contributed ideas in 2022 for pollinator protection in Minnesota. Read the draft action framework incorporating many of your ideas here: DRAFT Minnesota Pollinator Action Framework.
The second round to share ideas and feedback on the pollinator action framework is closed. We are reviewing the input we received from the public and working on the final document.
Pollinators are essential for our food, lands and wildlife, economy, and way of life. But, many pollinator species are in decline. This is a difficult problem and will require action by Minnesotans across the state. We, the InteragencyContinue reading
Thank you to everyone who contributed ideas in 2022 for pollinator protection in Minnesota. Read the draft action framework incorporating many of your ideas here: DRAFT Minnesota Pollinator Action Framework.
The second round to share ideas and feedback on the pollinator action framework is closed. We are reviewing the input we received from the public and working on the final document.
Pollinators are essential for our food, lands and wildlife, economy, and way of life. But, many pollinator species are in decline. This is a difficult problem and will require action by Minnesotans across the state. We, the Interagency Pollinator Protection Team, are developing an action framework to restore pollinator health in Minnesota.
The key questions:
- How can we learn more about pollinator species and populations?
- How can our lands better support pollinators?
- How can we ensure pesticides are used judiciously and only when necessary?
- How can we raise public awareness and spur action for pollinators?
You can still see the ideas and comments we received for the pollinator action framework on the sections below.
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Share Share your feedback on the draft Minnesota Pollinator Action Framework on Facebook Share Share your feedback on the draft Minnesota Pollinator Action Framework on Twitter Share Share your feedback on the draft Minnesota Pollinator Action Framework on Linkedin Email Share your feedback on the draft Minnesota Pollinator Action Framework linkCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.
We want to hear from you!
After reading the DRAFT Minnesota Pollinator Action Framework, please use the space below to share your feedback with us. Some questions to consider are:
- Will the actions included in the draft answer the key questions above?
- Are there any other ideas that should be included to help pollinators?
- Are there any other ideas that should be included to help Minnesotans understand, value, and care about pollinators?
loonsover 1 year agoMaintenance programs / policies need to shift from preventive to promotive paradigm; educate public entities how they CAN be stewards.
Incentivize communities and agencies to learn and adopt stewardship activities
0 comment0Lee Ann L.over 1 year agoI'm a member of 3 pro-pollinator groups. It'd be great if there was an even more-coherent comm plan and work efforts. Many orgs to involve!
A better, integrated communications plan
0 comment0Flyhaover 1 year agoEarlier pollinator plants vs No Mow May
I pretty much hate NMM because it's quite ugly and doesn't necessarily solve the problem. I would promote people planting more early bloomers instead - azaleas, crocus, snowdrops, etc
0 comment1Emarie21over 1 year agoIncorporate 1-2% budget funding for new or replacement construction in order to support habitat development and sustainability
When State funds are used (or leveraged) for projects which involve construction, a dedicated % of total budget should be earmarked for habitat development & sustainability of ecosystems. This project should provide guidance for said program(s) and should encourage, if not require, ecosystem protection plans, including damage mitigation. This would not only support pollinator habitat but also support other ecosystems across the State.
0 comment1Flyhaover 1 year agoEncourage protection of ground bee nests
We have 1 every year and decided to accept it instead of kill it. We mark it off and make our neighbors aware of them and to avoid and have had no problems since.
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Share Desired outcome - Healthy pollinators on Facebook Share Desired outcome - Healthy pollinators on Twitter Share Desired outcome - Healthy pollinators on Linkedin Email Desired outcome - Healthy pollinators link
Desired outcome - Healthy pollinators
over 1 year agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.CLOSED: first round of sharing ideas has concluded.
State agencies in
Minnesota work to protect pollinators. Together they are taking action to restore pollinator health in our state. For instance:
- The Minnesota Zoological Garden established the only managed rearing and breeding program for the threatened Dakota skipper, and has led efforts to reintroduce this butterfly in their native range
- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources led statewide baseline bee surveys, which contribute to our understanding of bee diversity in Minnesota
Rachelabout 2 years agoFederal regulations don't protect the habitat of endangered pollinators like the Rusty Patch Bumblebee. Make MN state regulations that do.
0 comment15Debalmost 2 years agoBe aware of using insecticides around flowers.
Refrain from using foggers and spray-on insecticides which may land on flowers. If DEET is used, perhaps use a lotion form of DEET instead of a spray. Landscaping with flowers at your door may be a detriment to pollinators if insecticides are sprayed in the vicinity.
0 comment0Angelaalmost 2 years agoTeach Kids More about Plants
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.
0 comment1Mimiabout 2 years agoLet's make seed bombing and planting pollinator gardens a thing.
I'd like to see citizen volunteers work together with cities and counties and corporate citizens to create pollinator gardens and provide pollinator-friendly seeds for planting in yards, parks, utility easements, and medians, while also receiving an education about drought-resistant plants and seeds that can survive climate change.
0 comment8MJ Forbordalmost 2 years agoAerial and all pesticide applicators need to follow label laws, we need to know what they are spraying, and who is enforcing?
We in western MN are experiencing unprecedented bombardment with aerial sprays from morning until night when windspeeds are much too high to avoid drift and overspray. MN Department of Ag tells us that we are not allowed to find out who is spraying or what they are spraying. From numerous experiences, I'd have to say that no one here or perhaps anywhere in MN is upholding "the (pesticide) label is the law", and there is no appeal process when MN Department of Ag dismisses pesticide complaints. We have been a certified organic farm for nearly two decades and a MN farm for 5 generations, but in recent years it seems there is no room for us, our diverse plants and pollinators when toxic sprays all around have the right of way. We used to be able to talk to our neighbors about their farming practices and ours, but now adjacent lands are held by distant entities and we are "in the way", as they say. Health effects go unchecked as the same pesticides are defended as "essential crop protection" but cause neurological damage to children's brains. We are all paying too big a price for the profit of a few. If MDA can't/won't enforce label laws, maybe another state agency would do a better job.
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Share Minnesota's lands support pollinators on Facebook Share Minnesota's lands support pollinators on Twitter Share Minnesota's lands support pollinators on Linkedin Email Minnesota's lands support pollinators link
Minnesota's lands support pollinators
over 1 year agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.CLOSED: first round of sharing ideas has concluded
The loss and fragmentation of habitat is one of the major contributors for pollinator declines. For instance, from the prairie that once covered one-third of Minnesota, only a little over 1% remains. As a result, pollinators that depend on prairies have declined.
Understanding pollinator habitat needs is complex because different pollinator species have different requirements. Still, state agencies are working together to help protect, restore, and enhance habitat for pollinators. For example:
- The Board of Water and Soil Resources, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Natural Resources partner to update state seed mixes that meet pollinator and wildlife needs
- The Minnesota Department of Agriculture developed a program that provides assistance to farmers who want to manage their land to protect and conserve wildlife and water quality
Frogtown Greenabout 2 years agoBuild the Bee Line!
Support replacement of turf grass along Pierce Butler Route in St Paul with pollinator-friendly, native plantings. Result: more pollinators, less pollution, fewer mowings, money saved! Win-win-win-win!
0 comment0Swedealmost 2 years agoThe DNR and USFWS are the two largest landowners in my county.
There are millions of acres available to co-locate wildlife and pollinator habitat. MN state government should take the lead in planting habitat on some of those acres.
0 comment0Stephanie H.almost 2 years agoRestrict Floodplain developments and restore floodplains to support pollinators
Floodplains are not ideal for human development, especially with increased extreme rain events. Dedicate floodplains to pollinator habitat with native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers that have co-benefits of pollinator habitat, pollinator corridors, and erosion control along our shorelines (both lakes and rivers).
0 comment2Kaitlynalmost 2 years agoFund Restoration Ecologist Positions to Better Manage Land
Good habitat restoration takes active, adaptive land management. Threats like invasive species and lack of fire or other disturbances can cause the quality of our habitats to degrade over time. We need more Restoration Ecologist jobs in the DNR, BWSR, Watershed Districts, Cities, and SWCDs, and non-profits like The Nature Conservancy, the Minnesota Land Conservancy, The Prairie Enthusiasts, and Wild Ones so that these wild spaces are managed with integrity into the future. Right now, our public lands are being degraded because there isn't enough staff or funding to properly manage places like Scientific and Natural Areas. I'd love to see public funding for an initiative like this that provides the resources for more active management of prairies, savannas, woodlands, and wetlands.
0 comment0mn1about 2 years agoPollinator Habitat on Field Margins
We live in the heart of ag country and many local farmers plant to the very edge of their properties since farming is their livelihood. However the result is thousands of acres of corn and beans with very little other plants growing between fields, between fields and road edges, and many farmers and other land owners are clearing more property each year. There is simply no where for pollinators to feed, lay eggs, or have a natural life cycle. It would be great to help encourage farmers and rural Minnesotans to plant pollinators plants, even on the edges of fields or road ditches.
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Share Minnesotans use pesticides judiciously and only when necessary on Facebook Share Minnesotans use pesticides judiciously and only when necessary on Twitter Share Minnesotans use pesticides judiciously and only when necessary on Linkedin Email Minnesotans use pesticides judiciously and only when necessary link
Minnesotans use pesticides judiciously and only when necessary
over 1 year agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.CLOSED: first round of sharing ideas has concluded
Pesticide use is one of the main factors affecting pollinator populations, because pollinators may be exposed to a wide range of pesticides. Still, pesticides can be an important tool for pest management and using integrated pest management (IPM) can help reduce harmful effects on pollinators.
- State agencies are leading by example, using IPM on state-managed land
- The Minnesota Department of Agriculture promotes pollinator best management practices to pesticide users
AutumnBlazeabout 2 years agoBan Pesticides, Provide Incentives for Regenerative Farming
Pesticides are wiping out pollinators and herbicides are sterilizing the soil. Educate farmers on regenerative farming and provide incentives and/or funding to switch from conventional modern day practices.
0 comment1Joelabout 2 years agoProhibit Residential Pesticide Applications
Residential use of pesticides for aesthetic, non-agricultural purposes is completely incompatible with the goal of increasing pollinator populations. Such pesticide use should be banned at municipal, county, and state level.
2 comments2Stephanie H.almost 2 years agoStudy residential barriers and benefits to pesticide use to develop a program that motivates less pesticide use.
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.
0 comment0Eco Logicalmost 2 years agoHerbicides & Pesticides behind the counter
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
0 comment0MCabout 2 years agoStop all pesticide and herbicide use at the state, county and local levels. Increase awareness of cancer causes and endocrine disruption
Ban spraying of fields. Ban spraying of houses. Ban spraying for mosquitoes. Stop the dependence on chemical control of nature. It is a futile toxic endeavor. Teach the public that it is harmful with a major ad campaign on billboards and radio and internet.
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Share Minnesotans actively support pollinators on Facebook Share Minnesotans actively support pollinators on Twitter Share Minnesotans actively support pollinators on Linkedin Email Minnesotans actively support pollinators link
Minnesotans actively support pollinators
over 1 year agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.CLOSED: first round of sharing ideas has concluded
Minnesotans show their
commitment to making our state a better place for pollinators in different ways. Yet, there are still challenges to reach diverse audiences and increase the level of public participation in pollinator policy and program development.
- The Environmental Quality Board has launched this engagement site to share more information and resources with the people of Minnesota, as well as to listen to the public about how to move this important work forward.
The Rusty Patchabout 2 years agoVisual examples on public property, require bee lawns/native plants on all new builds, work w/ media companies-show desired land use in ads
We mimic what we see, and what is promoted in ads and other visual media we consume. #changethescenery
0 comment5Bettyalmost 2 years agoSponsor seed exchanges
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.
0 comment0ConservationMinnesotaalmost 2 years agoPollinator Friendly Ordinances
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.
0 comment1Stephanie H.almost 2 years agoPartner with Blue Thumb, Metro Blooms, Master Gardeners, and MN Water Stewards programs to lead education efforts
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.
0 comment0JDLabout 2 years agoHomeowner grants/greater visibility
Find/expand grant opportunities for homeowners to create pollinator gardens. Offer extra incentive if these gardens are in the front yard and include signage identifying as pollinator habitat.
0 comment1
Who's Listening
Lifecycle
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First round: Open for ideas and feedback
Minnesota's Pollinator Action Framework has finished this stageThis consultation is open for contributions from July to August. We are welcoming ideas from the public to drive action to help pollinators
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Under review
Minnesota's Pollinator Action Framework has finished this stageThe Interagency Pollinator Protection Team will consider the ideas provided by the public for the pollinator action framework through August 31.
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Framework draft
Minnesota's Pollinator Action Framework has finished this stageThe Interagency Pollinator Protection Team will present the final draft to the Environmental Quality Board as part of the 2022 pollinator annual report.
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Second round: Open for feedback on draft framework
Minnesota's Pollinator Action Framework has finished this stageIndividuals and organizations can provide feedback on the final draft of the framework from January 30 to March 15, 2023.
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Second round: Under review
Minnesota's Pollinator Action Framework is currently at this stageThe Interagency Pollinator Protection Team reviews the feedback shared by the public for the pollinator action framework
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Final pollinator action framework released
this is an upcoming stage for Minnesota's Pollinator Action FrameworkFinal Minnesota pollinator action framework document projected to be released by the end of summer 2023.