A World Without Pollinators

A World Without Pollinators: Why Pollinators Matter and How You Can Help Ensure Their Survival

Imagine starting your morning without a cup of coffee. A salad with nothing but lettuce. No fragrant flowers in the spring or sweet watermelons in the summer. These are a few of the food items we would be missing without pollinators; others include almonds, apples, apricots, bananas, carrots, tomatoes, strawberries, kale, vanilla, and chocolate.   80% of all flowering plants that produce fruits, vegetables, nuts, and spices require pollination. Pollination is the process of pollen moving from the male part of a flower to the female part. For most flowering plants, this cannot be done without help from pollinators. Pollinators move from flower to flower in search of food, and in the process, they pick up and drop off pollen.  Pollinators come in all shapes and forms. You may be most familiar with bees and butterflies, but other invertebrates like beetles, ants, flies, moths, and wasps are also pollinators. In the US, it is estimated that the pollination of crops is valued at $10 billion annually. Globally, pollinator services are valued at $3 trillion! Pollinators are not only crucial to our economy and health, but they also play a pivotal role in sustaining life on Earth. Most flowering plants require pollination to reproduce. Plants provide habitat for other living organisms, reduce soilerosion, and convert carbon dioxide into oxygen for the planet. It’s crucial to understand that despite their vital role, pollinators are facing a global decline. This is primarily due to habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and the use of harmful chemicals. The urgency of this issue cannot be overstated.  Pollinators need our help now more than ever. How can we contribute to the survival of these life-sustaining creatures? Fortunately, Butterfly Pavilion offers accessible ways for everyone to participate in pollinator conservation. Here are a few ways you can make a difference:  Create a space for pollinators in your garden! We have some helpful tips here. Butterfly Pavilion also frequently hosts Pollinator Gardening Boot Camps, which are workshops that focus on cultivating a pollinator-friendly space in your garden.  

Take part in pollinator conservation projects at Butterfly Pavilion! The Colorado Butterfly Monitoring Program involves counting butterflies to compile data useful for land managers when making conservation decisions. If you’re looking for more variety in work, join the Urban Prairies Project! The Urban Prairie Project utilizes volunteers for pollinator habitat restoration, data collection, and community outreach.  

Finally, celebrate Pollinator Palooza with Butterfly Pavilion! June is National Pollinator Month, and we are hosting a series of events all month long to engage and educate the community in pollinator protection and conservation. The grand finale is our Pollinator Palooza Festival on June 29th from 12:00 2-8:00 p.m. a hybrid outdoor-indoor pollinator celebration featuring  live bands, a pollinator artisan market, beer garden, food trucks, pollinator workshops, garden tours, live butterfly releases and more!  

Written by Celena Romero