Health & Fitness
It's National Pollinator Week!
Tread lightly on this great blue planet, you can see how very much the very small things really do matter…
June 18 through June 24 is National Pollinator Week.
Most people think about insects like bees and butterflies when they talk about pollinators, but birds, bats and other small animals are also responsible for the fertilization of flowering plants. National forests and the nations grasslands need pollinators to thrive. Pollinators promote ecological stability and biodiversity in many ecosystems.
Some pollinators are in severe decline across the planet. Colony Collapse Disorder is wiping out millions of honeybees each year.Bats are suffering as well, and over 6 million have perished in the past five years because of a fungus! This is not good news, as these animals are not only important pollinators, they are indicator species, and they may be indicating to us that something is not quite right in the environment.
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You can thank insect pollinators for most of the food you eat. Honeybees get most of the credit here, as they are responsible for pollinating 70 of the 100 crops that provide 90% of the world's food. Honeybees annual contribution to the US economy is over 15 billion dollars!
Even animal products like meat, cheese, and dairy products need pollinators in order to make its way to your table. It's true! Cows eat flowering plants that require bee pollination. Therefore, if you eat fruits, veggies, beef, or dairy products like milk and cheese, you can thank the pollinators of the planet.
Find out what's happening in East Hamptonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Coffee and chocolate also require pollination- so we really, really should make sure we do not loose these invaluable species! Imagine a world without chocolate!
Want to learn more about pollinators? Click here for fast facts .
You can go to this website for detailed information about honeybees.
Want to help pollinators? Click here for ways to help pollinators around your home and garden. Here is a great booklet that tells you how to attract pollinators to your garden.
Tread lightly on this great blue planet, you can see how very much the very small things really do matter…
