Minnesota's Pollinator Action Framework

Thank you to everyone who contributed ideas for pollinator protection in Minnesota. Read the draft action framework incorporating many of your ideas here: DRAFT Minnesota Pollinator Action Framework.
Please share your ideas and feedback on this draft until March 10, 2023!
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 weContinue reading
Thank you to everyone who contributed ideas for pollinator protection in Minnesota. Read the draft action framework incorporating many of your ideas here: DRAFT Minnesota Pollinator Action Framework.
Please share your ideas and feedback on this draft until March 10, 2023!
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?
What we did in Round 1:
- Discussed ideas for action with subject-matter experts
- Considered the ideas for action and feedback we received from the public through this platform and email. We included many of these actions in the draft pollinator action framework
- Released a draft pollinator action framework on December 1, 2022. You can find the document here: DRAFT Minnesota Pollinator Action Framework
What you can do today:
- Read the draft pollinator action framework
- Use the tools below to share feedback on the draft.
- Vote for any comments that you think are relevant
- See the ideas for action submitted during the first round of comments on the last sections of this page
- Help us get the word out by sharing the project with your networks
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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?
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Desired outcome - Healthy pollinators
10 days 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
mrfuzzs7 months agoAllow residential/commercial developers to develop on land only on condition that their proposed development includes a pollinator garden.
0 comment11MC7 months agoWork fervently with traditional mono cultural agribusiness and land use companies to change practices to regenerative farming.
Stop Pesticide Use. Stop Herbicide Use. Stop Mowing. Regulate strongly developments. Restrict Tree removal. Replant with natives. Stop Mowing all roadsides. Increase Buffer zones. Highlight the good chaos of nature. Reduce and discourage Man’s futile desire to control.
0 comment13KJOW13136 months agoImplement the U of MN Bee Lab Pollinator Toolkit into school science curriculum
This is a great resource that should be used all across the State of MN in school and community settings.
0 comment9WPS6 months agoControl Invasive Plants that are out-competing the existing vegetation. See photo of Wild Parsnips, now common along many roads in SE MN
Invasive plants are disrupting the ecosystem in a major way. When the ditches and other lands are not maintained, the seeds get spread to the edges of fields, waterways, pastures, nature areas, etc. MnDOT, counties, cities, towns and landowners are NOT controlling these invasive plants! These plants should be mowed before they produce seeds, or other effective measures! I have been carefully managing them in my area, because the road authorities do not. When not managed as the photo shows, they can choke out the existing vegetation that is often in rural areas, pollinator and wildlife friendly.
2 comments7Deb6 months 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.
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Minnesota's lands support pollinators
10 days 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
The Rusty Patch6 months agoTax incentives for sustainable land stewardship; set minimum 50 % native plant coverage; stop mowing roadsides
Land stewardship incentives should be extended to include stormwater mitigation measures on private land as well.
0 comment5Tom Casey6 months agoAmend the Minnesota endangered species law by repealing the exemption for "endangered" plants with public rights-of-way.
1 comment2dss9106 months agoRoadside revegetation
Invest in converting roadsides of all sizes, from interstates to small dirt roads, to appropriate native plant cover. Roadsides right now are unfortunately a huge reservoir of invasive and noxious plant species. Replacing them with a well maintained series of native plants would help pollinators and remove a good chunk of invasive plants.
0 comment4Walker6 months agoCarlton county Soil &Water have excellent support and grants for pollinator gardens
0 comment0White Pine6 months agoTownship pollinator habitat coordinators
Create positions in townships to educate their community, especially private landowners, about the installation and maintenance of pollinator habitat. Townships with high poverty rates could be prioritized as they have limited financial resources for spending on vegetation and may also have limited job opportunities.
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Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkCLOSED: 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
Laura7 months agoEducation! Neighbors around us use sprays without a second thought.Please provide easy to understand handouts listing approved/banned tools.
0 comment3D-san6 months agoBetter education for urban residents about pest control "needs"
I live in a new subdivision where the pest control companies do a lot of business getting superficial new homeowners all concerned about keeping things neat and pristine. They have people worried about the spiders around their foundations and siding, as if those won't just eat a lot of true pests. Perhaps the MMCD or some related organization could do some work in educating the public about what pests to really worry about and how to deal with them. Unfortunately there's a lot of money in this field and it could be a tough sell.
0 comment2White Pine6 months agoResearch reduced herbicide application techniques for invasive plant control
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.
0 comment0The Rusty Patch6 months agoEliminate pesticides and switch to compost tea - weeds indicate soil health. Improve the soil by reducing compression (mowing, heavy equip)
Weeds grow best in anaerobic, compressed soil - Improve soil health by leaving the leaves, reducing/eliminating mowing, ensuring diverse plantings, and using compost tea instead of pesticides.
0 comment0Ginger6 months agoBan residential pesticide "fogging" by companies or individuals. Drift is inevitable and dangerous to pollinators, pets, and human health.
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Minnesotans actively support pollinators
10 days 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.
JDL6 months 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 comment1B-1276 months agoState Fair Campaign
Add exhibition and marketing campaign at the Minnesota State Fair on the importance of native plants and the impact of a lush green lawn with Asian perennial plants and non native trees
1 comment3SJQ6 months agoEvery public school should have a pollinator habitat that is maintained by the students.
Public schools should have a pollinator habitat that is maintained by a certain grades science class as part of the curriculum. They can identify plants, weed, collect seeds, document pollinators and other wildlife. Learn the benefits all parts played in the balance of an ecosystem. If something seems out of balance, brainstorm what is missing in the ecosystem and how to correct the imbalance naturally(too many aphids, need to attract predators, etc).
1 comment6JM6 months agoPresent educational events at local libraries/rec centers
Have a special display of materials (books, etc.) at libraries and rec centers
0 comment1ConservationMinnesota5 months 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.
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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 is currently at this stageIndividuals and organizations can provide feedback on the final draft of the framework from December 2022 until March 31st, 2023.
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Second round: Under review
this is an upcoming stage for Minnesota's Pollinator Action FrameworkThe 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.