White House Establishes Pollinator Health Task Force

The White House has issued a June 24, 2014, memorandum creating a federal strategy “to promote the health of honey bees and other pollinators.” Highlighting the critical role of pollinators in agriculture and the economy, the memorandum establishes an interagency Pollinator Health Task Force and directs members to develop a National Pollinator Health Strategy by December 21, 2014.

Among other things, the strategy requires an action plan for understanding, preventing and recovering from pollinator losses through the use of longitudinal studies, expanded data collection and sharing, assessment of native pollinator populations, and development of affordable seed mixes for the maintenance of honey bees and other pollinators. Agency representatives appointed to the task force will also implement a number of policies designed to incorporate pollinator health into the management of federal land, rights-of-way, and restoration and reclamation projects.

To this end, the White House has called for further education to help address the loss of pollinators. “Given the breadth, severity and persistence of pollinator losses, it is critical to expand Federal efforts and take new steps to reverse pollinator losses and help restore populations to healthy levels,” states the memorandum. “These steps should include the development of new public-private partnerships and increased citizen engagement.” See Federal Register, June 24, 2014.

Issue 528