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The Impact of a Global Decline in Pollinators

A global decline in the number and variety of pollinators is a serious concern. On The Point, we discuss some of the causes for the decline and how we can help protect and promote pollinators, including beekeeping. 

 

Pollinators are critical in the production of most fruits and vegetables. According to the USDA, three fourths of the world's flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on pollinators to reproduce. While there aren’t exact figures, surveys in the U.S. and Europe are documenting pollinator population declines and even local extinctions of certain species. Not only can pollinator decline have an impact on world food production, pollinator health is an indicator of the ecosystem’s overall health. 

Guests on the program are:

Mace Vaughan, Co-Director of the Pollinator Conservation and Agricultural Biodiversity Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Larry Dapsis, Entomologist and Tick Project Coordinator at theBarnstable County Cooperative Extension.

Marthe Ayers from the Barnstable County Beekeepers Association.

Here's a link to a list of Barnstable County Native Plants.

Here are some reasearch basedresources on making lawns pollinator-friendly:

Fowering beelawns

Your perfect lawn could be killing bees

 

Emily May of the Xerces Society will be presenting on bee conservation at the Mashpee Library on June 20 in collaboration with the Association to Preserve Cape Cod. 

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Amy has worked at WCAI since 2001. After 11 years in the WCAI development department, she shifted gears and became producer for The Point with Mindy Todd. She enjoys the challenges of producing a daily public affairs program and the opportunity to research and learn about the wide variety of topics covered by the program. Before coming to WCAI, Amy spent nearly a decade sailing offshore as a mate on sailing school oceanographic research vessels. She lives in Falmouth with her husband and son.