Inspired by the Rutgers student activists of the NJPIRG “Save the Bees” campaign and with the backing and leadership of the Montclair-based Northeast Earth Coalition (NEEC), the Montclair Township Council has passed a “Bee City USA Resolution.” With this resolution, the Township joins a movement of towns and cities across the country to create, enhance, and protect pollinator-friendly habitat.
Second Ward Councilor Eileen Birmingham, who introduced the resolution at the September 9 Council meeting, was gratified by the support for Bee City on the Council. “It’s exciting to become a Bee City Affiliate and expand our efforts to support pollinators,” she said. “The Council’s unanimous support of the resolution reflects our enthusiastic respect for this critical work, and we look forward to making the Montclair community even more pollinator-friendly.”
At-Large Councilor Susan Shin Andersen also expressed enthusiasm for Montclair’s new Bee City status. “Bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects are critical to our local and global ecosystems. I am excited to work with Council members, NEEC, the Office of Sustainability, and others on this project. Together with the recently passed local ordinance prohibiting synthetic pesticides on Township-owned land, as a Bee City Affiliate we can continue the work of educating the public about the importance of being a pollinator-friendly community.”
Strengthening Pollinator Habitats
The Township’s Office of Sustainability, led by Environmental and Code Coordinator Lisa Johnson, PhD, will be the official Bee City Montclair sponsor, working with the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and the NEEC to implement the resolution.
“As Montclair’s Bee City sponsor, the Office of Sustainability is proud to advance policies and practices that create safe habitats for pollinators while strengthening our township’s environmental leadership,” stated Johnson, “This designation will guide our next steps in expanding pollinator habitats and reducing pesticide use, and we are grateful to partner with the NEEC in putting these principles into action.’”
“For years, Montclair has been in the forefront of promoting wildlife habitat, encouraging the use native plant species, and, most recently, phasing out the use of harmful pesticides,” said Jose German, CEO of the NEEC. “Becoming a Bee City USA provides an additional way to educate Township residents about steps they can take to support bees and other pollinators on their property and helps to promote the creation of more pollinator habitat in parks and other public areas.”
Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Chair Marcia Almeda is also a Bee City enthusiast. “The Advisory Committee is excited about participating in this project and exploring ways of making Montclair parks more pollinator-friendly,” says Almeda.
A recent Montclair ordinance will ban the use of harmful pesticides on Township property, this does not apply to private property. The Bee City USA committee will work to raise public awareness of the harmful effects of pesticide use and suggest alternative approaches to pest control. One issue of particular concern is the practice of mosquito spraying, which, according to Bee City USA, does next to nothing to control mosquito populations but has devastating effects on beneficial insects, including bees, butterflies, dragonflies, fireflies, and lady bugs.
NEEC Board member David Wasmuth is especially enthusiastic about Bee City USA’s emphasis on the use of native plants. He points out that native bees and other beneficial insects coevolved with native plants and depend on them to complete their life cycles. “By including an abundance of native plants in our yards and parks, we not only create beautiful, resilient landscapes but also provide essential support to bees and other pollinators that are threatened by climate change and habitat loss.”
Among other measures to educate Township residents about steps they can take to create pollinator-friendly habitat, Montclair’s Bee City USA committee will publish a webpage with lists of recommended native plants and information about their habitat needs and bloom times, as well as links to further information about pollinator issues and environmentally friendly landscaping practices.
Misunderstood Species
The website will also share information about the many essential but misunderstood native bee species. According to Wasmuth, “When most people think of bees, the three things that come to mind are hives, honey, and, unfortunately, stings. These stereotypes apply to European honeybees, but our native bee species are different. They don’t live in hives, they’re not big honey producers, and they rarely if ever sting. But they are essential for the pollination of native plants and even of many garden vegetables, such as tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers.”
Wasmuth adds that even honeybees rarely sting unless they think their hive is threatened; foraging bees are not interested in stinging.
Another initiative of Montclair’s Bee City Committee will be to identify potential sites for pollinator gardens on public lands and develop a program to create or expand pollinator habitat. German points out that Montclair already has examples of beautiful pollinator gardens featuring native plants, including various projects in Brookdale Park, the NEEC’s pollinator gardens in Crane Park and at the main entrance of First Congregational Church, and the Garden Club’s flower beds along Church Street. German says that these can serve as models for additional projects in parks, schools, churchyards, sidewalk planters, and other public areas.
Bee City USA is an initiative of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, a nonprofit organization based in Portland, Oregon, with offices across the country. Bee City USA’s mission is to galvanize communities to sustain pollinators by providing them with healthy habitat, rich in a variety of native plants, and free of pesticides. Pollinators like bumble bees, sweat bees, mason bees, honey bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, hummingbirds, and many others are responsible for the reproduction of almost ninety percent of the world’s flowering plant species and one in every three bites of food we consume.
“The program aspires to make people more PC—pollinator conscious, that is,” said Scott Hoffman Black, Xerces’ executive director. “If lots of individuals and communities begin planting native, pesticide-free flowering trees, shrubs and perennials, it will help to sustain many, many species of pollinators.”
According to Bee City USA coordinator Laura Rost, “How each city completes the steps to conserve pollinators is up to them,” said Rost. “Affiliates play to their own strengths, designing pesticide reduction plans, improving habitat, and holding events ranging from garden tours to native plant giveaways to bee trivia nights. Each town must renew their affiliation each year and report on accomplishments from the previous year.”
For more information about the Montclair Bee City USA program, contact David Wasmuth at dawasmuth@gmail.com or Jose German at neearthcoalition@gmail.com
To learn more about Bee Campus USA, visit https://www.beecityusa.org/
For more information about the Xerces Society, visit https://xerces.org/
For information about four simple ways to help pollinators, visit https://xerces.org/bringbackthepollinators/
