Minnesota's Pollinator Action Framework

DNR collaborate with private nurseries to get more diverse seed availability

The diversity of species available for planting is good but not great. Some basic plants of the northwoods are missing. DNR could collaborate with existing nurseries and seed vendors to increase the diversity of plants available. Collaboration could coordinating volunteers to pick seed like poverty grass and other common species that are generally not available.

I feel we need a post-inspection for when private pesticide applicators spray pesticides to verify compliance with rules and regulations.

Government agencies inspect food establishments and also verify building codes are followed (for example). When a company sprays for mosquitoes (for instance) at a private residence or company, I would like to see an inspection program in place whereby a post treatment inspection is performed by a state agency to verify compliance with rules and regulations.

I'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

Maintenance 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

Increase capacity for habitat management

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.

Develop a statewide plan for managing roadsides to support pollinators

Especially here in western MN roadsides are virtually the only habitats available to support pollinators (and grassland nesting songbirds). Therefore, we should prioritize developing a statewide plan to manage them wisely, combining efforts at state, county city and township levels. This might follow Iowa's Roadside Vegetation Management model: see https://tallgrassprairiecenter.org/roadsides and https://iowadot.gov/lrtf/integrated-roadside-vegetation-management/irvm Minnesota's plan should include among other initiatives: 1) a statewide effort to plant roadsides to ecoregion-appropriate natives wildflowers and grasses rather than non-native ground cover, 2) providing funding for each county to hire a roadside vegetation manager who has expertise in integrated roadside management, 3) limiting roadside herbicide spraying to areas of documented noxious weed infestation, 4) strictly regulating roadside mowing such that it avoids peak oviposition and nectaring times and allows mowing of individual stretches of ditches to only once over a period of 3-5 years (except in the case of severe noxious weed infestation), this would limit woody plant growth and promote healthy grassland structure that can support both pollinators and songbirds 5) educating rural landowners about the benefits of limited mowing.

Ban or reduce noenicitinoid pesticides in both agriculture and the ornamental plant nursery.

These pesticides have been shown to be toxic to pollinators and yet they are ubiquitous. They are used as prophylactics, whether there is any pest pressure or not, and so much of them aren't even needed.

Encourage nurseries to sell actual native plants and not just their cultivars.

So many nurseries have versions of plants that are native to the area, but they are actually cultivars bred for certain qualities that gardeners might like (size, compactness, color), but which aren't necessarily any good for the pollinators who have evolved to feed off of the original, non-cultivar plants.

Engage students in outdoor summer camps to be pollinator garden planters, data collectors and participants in statewide education programs.

Teach 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.

Roadside 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.

Plant pollinator friendly trees

Adding pollinator friendly trees in parks and other public areas have multiple benefits. We can plant fruit trees that provide food for the public and the pollinators. If Minnesota was one of the states that practiced botanical sexism, this is an opportunity to plant more female trees to help pollinators while reducing pollen. The UMN has a list of trees and shrubs that help pollinators.

Develop a Program for Landscapers, Gardeners and Lawn Care Professionals

I think it would be helpful if landscape/lawn care and gardening companies could partner as part of the solution. A program that educates new and existing companies on pollinator plantings, lawn conversions and alternatives to insecticides and herbicides would bring more businesses with influence on consumers into the fold. In turn some kind of certification would help spread awareness and bring new business to these companies as homeowners are beginning to look for ways to put their property to work in helping the pollinators! I see so many people online wondering how to convert their lawns and property into pollinator-friendly gardens and "bee-lawns" but have never seen a single company there to offer their services. Perhaps a great niche to be filled, and could be done more effectively by education existing companies.

The Lake Steward Program is very successful through GCOLA. Expand it Statewide.

Educate. City Planning and zoning need more stringent education and rules for desecrating existing natural areas. Stop the greed of man attempts to control every inch with boulders and cement. Retrain all landscaping companies. Fine tree companies for taking down our magnificent trees. Protect at the state, county and city levels. And reward land stewards with acclaim and positive regard. Stop the golf courses from plowing it under and using chemicals to create a sterile world

Greenways

Provide grants for greenways that connect current state parks with regional parks or other natural areas, so that there is a connected landmass that supports pollinator habitat.

Regulation Enforcement for Water Quality Concerns

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.

Ban pesticide use at flower selling markets

Require any flowers sold at Minnesota markets be free of any pesticides.

Ban residential pesticide "fogging" by companies or individuals. Drift is inevitable and dangerous to pollinators, pets, and human health.

Prohibit 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.

no use of pesticides would benefit more than bees/reduce invasive species by natural removal.

the reduced run off in lakes would benefit the water systems as well.

Learning about pollinators and native plants as part of early education programs.

Early education programs usually involve not only the kid but also parents. Including field trips or an interactive class for the kids would help them understand how important it is to keep a healthy environment with native plants to help species like the monarch butterfly.

Free seeds!

Provide free native, pollinator-friendly seeds at public locations such as public parks, schools, libraries, etc.

Volunteer Opportunities

Add volunteer opportunities for people to collect native seeds, plant gardens, remove invasive species, etc. Volunteers who complete a certain number of hours could be invited to gatherings, meeting like-minded folks and celebrating achievements. Volunteering is good for mental health, and can build communities.

Present educational events at local libraries/rec centers

Have a special display of materials (books, etc.) at libraries and rec centers

State 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