Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />Pollinator Resolution <br />The undersigned recognize the critical importance of pollinator habitat both restored and maintained on public and private lands, particularly found within the St. <br />Croix River Watershed and adjacent counties within Minnesota and Wisconsin. Through collaboration and outreach resulting from this Resolution an <br />interconnected mosaic of pollinator habitat with large core areas will be developed to stabilize and/or increase populations of pollinator species throughout this <br />project area. <br />WHEREAS, Pollinators include butterflies, bees, some birds, bats, and other insects that play a crucial role in flowering plant reproduction and given the breadth, <br />severity and persistence of pollinator losses, it is critical to expand efforts to take new steps to reverse pollinator losses and help restore populations to healthy <br />levels; <br />WHEREAS, Monarch butterfly populations declined to the lowest recorded level in 2013-14, and there is an imminent risk of failed migration. <br />WHEREAS, Three-Fourths of the world’s Flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollination to reproduce. <br />WHEREAS, The endangered Karner Blue Butterfly population blinked out in eastern Minnesota and Canada, and the western edge of the national population is <br />current anchored within the St. Croix River Watershed. <br />WHEREAS, For migratory pollinators, such as bats, hummingbirds, and the monarch butterfly, we recognize the importance of identification and protection of <br />our nectar corridor; <br />THEREFORE, we declare that it is our goal to collaboratively and strategically protect and enhance pollinator species and their habitat on public and private lands <br />throughout the St. Croix River Watershed and adjacent counties within northwest Wisconsin and northeastern Minnesota by: <br /> Increase and Improve Pollinator Habitat: Identify existing pockets of pollinator habitat, and then develop a network of habitat on public and private <br />lands to develop a nectar corridor for migratory and non-migratory pollinator species. <br /> Public-Private Partnerships: Develop strategic partnerships to improve or create habitat for pollinators as well as provide educational opportunities <br />within the scope of the resolution; <br /> Education: Encouraging voluntary, collaborative and locally-led conservation that has proven to be effective in maintaining and enhancing working <br />landscapes, this may include but is not limited to planting pollinator gardens, building bee blocks and avoiding or limiting pesticide use; <br /> Education: Provide educational opportunities (both government and non-government) to those interested in enhancing pollinators and pollinator <br />habitat opportunities <br /> Research: Develop and/or promote citizen science opportunities for tracking key populations of pollinator species and habitat.