Promoting Pollinator Health

Stakeholder Listening Session

Arlington, Virginia

November 12, 2014

Call-in Number: 1-866-299-3188

Conference Code: 703-308-8200

For media inquiries, please contact Cathy Milbourn at 

(202) 564-7849 or Milbourn.cathy@epa.gov

Photos courtesy of ARS and USGS
Presidential Memorandum: 

Creating a Federal Strategy to Promote the 

Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators

On June 20, 2014, President Obama 

issued a memorandum calling on Federal 

agencies to increase and coordinate their 

efforts to improve bee health.

The Memo is broken into 3 main 

sections:

1. Identification of the Task Force.

2. Mission of the Task Force.

3. Actions to increase and improve 

pollinator habitat. Photo courtesy of ARS
Section 1. The Task Force
Section 2. The Mission and Function 

of the Task Force

a) The Research Action Plan

i. Studies of factors that affect the health 

of managed and native bees. 

ii. Data and technology sharing to track 

status and trends in managed hives.

iii. Assessments of native pollinators and 

modeling of their habitats.

iv. Strategies and guidance for affordable, 

pollinator-friendly seed mixes.

v. Methods to reduce exposure to 

pesticides.

vi. Prioritizing projects for habitat 

restoration.

Photos courtesy of ARS
Section 2. The Mission and Function 

of the Task Force

b) Public Education Plan

i. Steps individuals and businesses 

can take to address losses of 

pollinators.

ii. Recommendations for 

coordinated education 

campaign.

c) Public-Private Partnerships

i. To encourage protection of 

pollinators.

ii. To increase the quality and 

quantity of habitat.

Photo courtesy of NRCS
Section 3. Improving and Increasing 

Pollinator Habitat

a) Enhance habitat on federal lands and facilities.

b) Enhance habitat on rights-of-way and 

easements.

c) Incorporate pollinator health in future Federal 

restoration and reclamation projects.

d) Revise Federal guidance on facilities 

management to improve habitat.

e) Develop best management practices for public 

lands.

f) Establish a reserve of pollinator-friendly seed 

mixes for re-vegetation.

g) Increase acreage and forage value of pollinator 

habitat in Federal conservation programs and 

provide technical assistance to landowners in 

pollinator-friendly practices.

Photo courtesy of NRCS
Section 3. Improving and Increasing 

Pollinator Habitat (cont.)

h) Assist States and State wildlife 

organizations in identifying and 

implementing pollinator conservation 

projects.

i) Increase pollinator habitat along 

Federal and State roadways.

j) Increase pollinator habitat on military 

property.

k) Increase pollinator habitat on land and 

water resource development projects.

l) Assess the effects of pesticides on 

pollinators and expedite review of new 

products targeting pests to pollinators.

m) Take immediate action to support 

pollinators in the 2014 growing season 

and thereafter.

Photo courtesy of USDA
Timeline

June July August September October

November December January February March

Presidential 

Memorandum 

Issued on June 

20, 2014

Final draft of Education 

and Research Plans, 

and Best Management 

Practices, submitted to 

the White House by 

Dec. 20th

Two stakeholder 

listening 

sessions at EPA 

and USDA on 

Nov. 12 and 17

CEQ and GSA 

issue guidance

Public rollout of Task 

Force products in late 

winter/early spring

Monthly meetings of Agency principals,

Bi-weekly meetings of Agency Points of Contact
Progress to Date

• Federal Facility and Land Guidance: 

In October 2014, the Council on 

Environmental Quality released an 

addendum to its Guidance for 

Federal Agencies on Sustainable 

Practices for Designed Landscapes to 

promote pollinator habitat creation 

and maintenance. The General 

Services Administration has also 

prepared and is implementing 

pollinator habitat guidance in 

Federal building construction, which 

will be published in the general 

update of the P100 standard.

Photos courtesy of CEQ and USDA
Progress to Date

• Forage and Nutrition Summit: In 

October 2014, USDA hosted a Bee 

Forage and Nutrition Summit in 

Virginia. Day 1 consisted of 

presentations, and Day 2 followed 

with working groups. Beekeepers, 

commodity groups, retailers, 

professional societies, agrochemical 

companies, NGO’s, and Federal and 

State representatives attended.

Photo courtesy of ARS
Why a Listening Session?

• Pollinators are important players in natural and 

managed ecosystems on public and private lands.

• Pollinator habitat spans public and private lands.

• Private and public research can be complementary in 

addressing pollinator health.

• Private entities have a nationwide, diverse stakeholder 

network with the capacity to

deliver information locally.

Photo courtesy of NRCS
Goals for This 

Listening Session

Solicit Feedback on:

• Best management practices

• Pesticide risk mitigation

• Research

• Education opportunities

• Pollinator habitat improvements

• Public-private partnerships

Photo courtesy of Sam Droege, USGS
The Importance of Partnerships

How can the Federal government catalyze and 

coordinate partnerships for pollinator health?

• What existing partnerships are out there? What is 

their function, how big are they impact-wise, and can 

they be scaled?

• What has made existing 

partnerships successful and 

what has been challenging?

• What other partnerships would

be helpful?

Photo courtesy of ARS
Format For Listening Session

• Wait to be called on by facilitator.

• Use microphone.

• Limit your comments to no more than 5 minutes 

at a time.

• If possible, submit your comments in written 

form as well.

• Comments may be submitted online at

www.regulations.gov, EPA docket number EPAHQ-OPP-2014-0806. Please submit your 

comments by November 24, 2014.