Xerces resources outline key steps to reduce or eliminate pesticide use throughout your community.
By Sharon Selvaggio, Pesticide Program Specialist, Xerces Society, and Sarah Hoyle, Pesticide Program Specialist, Xerces Society
Across the country, energized community members are partnering with parks, campuses, neighbors, and more to plant flowers and save bees. Creating habitat is vital to reversing pollinator declines, and it’s highly compatible with many public spaces. At Xerces, we applaud the efforts of these dedicated pollinator advocates.
Just as important as providing flowers is making the commitment to protect pollinators from pesticides—including rethinking the routine applications of insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides to lawns, flowering trees, and ornamental beds. Avoiding routine applications and basing pest management strategies in prevention are part of an overall approach called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Affiliates of Xerces’ Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA programs commit to create and adopt an IPM plan to reduce negative impacts of pesticides in their communities. Community IPM strategies have been pioneered in cities like San Francisco and B
Reducing Pesticide Use & Impacts
The vast majority of invertebrates serve vitally important roles in a healthy environment, including controlling pests, pollinating flowering plants, and providing food for other wildlife. Only a very small number of invertebrates are pests. Yet, the pesticides designed to control unwanted plants and animals rarely distinguish between beneficial invertebrates and those which cause harm. All too often pesticides cause unintended consequences and disrupt the natural systems that sustain us. But, because pesticides are valued for their toxicity to pests, the risks they pose are often accepted—even when healthier, more sustainable options are available.
As part of the Xerces Society’s conservation efforts we strive to reduce reliance on pesticides by supporting the diverse systems that reduce pest problems. Xerces’ staff is sought after to translate complex science so that farmers, backyard gardeners, agency staff, and policy makers can make informed decisions about pesticide use and regulation. And by providing on-the-ground technical support we are increasing the adoption of ecologically sound pest management practices everywhere.
The Importance of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and the New Toolkit From Xerces Society
When it comes to protecting our pollinators and ecosystems, one of the most significant issues is pesticide use. Pesticides can be highly harmful to bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects that are vital for pollination and ecological balance. One way to reduce pesticide impact while managing pests effectively is through Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The Xerces Society, through its Bee City USA initiative, has developed an IPM Toolkit and Checklist to help municipalities, parks, and institutions adopt safer, more sustainable pest management practices. But what is IPM, and how does the Xerces Society's toolkit guide us toward better pest management?
What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an environmentally friendly approach to pest control that emphasizes long-term prevention and the minimal use of pesticides. Rather than relying solely on chemical treatments, IPM focuses on understanding pest biology, reducing conducive conditions for pest outbreaks, and using multiple control strategies. This method seeks to achieve sustainable
Xerces Model Policy to Protect Pollinators from Harmful Pesticide Exposures
There’s a lot that can be accomplished to spur common-sense policies that address pollinator habitat and pesticide use at the local level. Across the country, cities such as Boulder, Colorado have introduced policies to protect pollinators at the city or municipal level.
You can work with your city council or local government to introduce a similar policy to make your community more pollinator-friendly. Xerces is often asked what a local policy should include, in response we created a model policy to protect pollinators by improving habitat and preventing harmful pesticide exposures.
Whether you use our model policy or another, it should addresses these critical issues:
- Creating diverse native pollinator habitat throughout the area
- Eliminating the use of neonicotinoid insecticides and other highly toxic, systemic insecticides
- Restricting the purchase and use of products that contain neonicotinoids and seeds or plants that have been treated with neonicotinoids
- Implementing integrated pest management on municipal property that relies on non-chemical options
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