As climate change accelerates, pollinators face growing threats to their survival. The Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, a federally endangered species and Minnesota’s state bee, has seen its population decline by about 80 percent over the past two decades. Similarly, butterfly populations have declined by over 20 percent.
Pollinators play a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth. Around 80 percent of the world’s flowering plants require pollinators, and without them, humans and any other terrestrial species would cease to exist. About 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on pollinators, and an estimated 80 percent of the world’s population uses plant-based or herbal medicine as part of their primary care.
You can help protect pollinators by adding a pollinator-friendly garden with native plants to your yard. Native plants, such as milkweed, attract pollinators like monarch butterflies, whose populations have sharply declined in recent years. These gardens can provide a refuge for many species threatened by habitat loss and environmental degradation.
Native plants offer several additional benefits:
- Filtering rainwater
- Supporting native ecosystems
- Resilience during flooding and droughts
- Enhancing soil health
- Providing food for wildlife
- Stabilizing land to reduce erosion
While planting native gardens may sound daunting at first, there are a lot of resources to help you get started. Visit bluethumb.org for tips on creating your own pollinator-friendly space. The Golden Valley Garden Club also offers support for gardeners at all experience levels. The club meets regularly, offering educational speakers in the winter and garden tours in the summer. It provides a network for those interested in helping pollinators thrive.