Native Plant Conservation Campaign News: New research estimates wild pollinators provide half of crop pollination worldwide
July 18, 2018
Across North America alone, there are more than 4,000 wild bee species of all shapes and sizes. Birds, bats and other animals are also key pollinators for crops and other plants.
National Science Foundation funded research has found that a diverse range of these rare and common wild pollinators is required to adequately pollinate food and other crops.
Locally adapted native plants provide the habitat that allows diverse pollinators to thrive.
Rutgers researchers examined how this staggering native diversity is essential to the successful pollination of food and other crop plants. The study found that pollinator diversity becomes more important when pollination success is measured across numerous sites, as opposed to within a single farm, crop, or experimental site. Previous research tended to underestimate the importance of species richness and diversity because it examined fewer sites, crops and environmental conditions.
Many farmers use non-native domesticated honey bees for pollination, and a great deal of money and attention has been spent in recent years in response to increasing mortality in honey bee populations. This new research shows that conservation and restoration of native plant communities, and the diverse wild pollinators they support, is at least as critical as honey bees to effective pollination and to a stable and secure food supply.
As the NSF research summary states, “The average person can help... By filling their gardens with diverse, native plant species and limiting pesticides, anyone can create more pollinator-friendly spaces and help keep their local pollinator community diverse, healthy and beautiful.”
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To find locally adapted natives to beautify your garden and help pollinators, wildlife and the environment, go to your local botanic garden and/or native plant society for recommendations, care tips and often the opportunity to purchase local native plants.
For a list of NPCC Affiliate botanic gardens and native plant societies go to our Affiliates Page
