[Southern California Permaculture] Cities as Sanctuaries for Bees, Insects, and Birds

[Margie Bushman, Santa Barbara Permaculture Network]

Not sure if anything happening, but the City of Santa Barbara did sign a Bee
City USA proclamation last year! some good ideas in this article by local SB
architect, Dennis Allen.

Cities as Sanctuaries for Bees, Insects, and Birds

Restoring Native Habitat and Ending Pesticide Use Is Key to Reversing the
Decline of Insects and Pollinators
<https://www.independent.com/?s&category_name=going-green> Going Green
Dennis Allen WED, APR 03, 2019

 
<https://www.independent.com/2019/04/03/cities-as-sanctuaries-for-bees-insec
ts-and-birds/>
https://www.independent.com/2019/04/03/cities-as-sanctuaries-for-bees-insect
s-and-birds/

Photo: Courtesy

Information about the widespread decline of pollinators has been well known
for some time. Recent studies documenting steep reductions in insect
populations worldwide are new, however, and of great concern. One study,
published in late 2017 in the journal Biological Conservation, cited a 40
percent decline in insects worldwide. Insects are the base of the food
chain, providing food to many of our favorite birds and mammals.

California is experiencing especially severe shortfalls in its insect
populations: among the most threatened are moths, butterflies, and
pollinators. There are many contributing factors, but the main one is loss
of habitat. Urbanization and the conversion of undeveloped land to
industrial agriculture leaves bees and other insects without native plants
for food and space to build nests. A study by the University of Vermont
found that wild bee populations in the United States declined by 23 percent
in just five years, between 2008 and 2013. Other factors decimating insect
populations are herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides. 

The Netherlands is trying to reverse this alarming trend, with Amsterdam
leading the way. Its municipal government has created a sustainability fund
to improve the environment, not only for bees but for entire ecosystems.
Since 2000, the diversity of bee species in the city has increased by 45
percent - 21 species of which had not previously been documented in the
city.

What strategies are the Dutch trying? They are transforming planting strips,
parkways, parks, road meridians, and vacant land to native plants,
especially ones that have lots of flowers and fruit for bees. Four years
ago, Amsterdam set a goal to convert 50 percent of all public green space to
native habitat. It has also banned the use of chemical pesticides on all
public land.

Developers are being encouraged to install green roofs on new buildings,
again with native plants attractive to wildlife. One six-story hotel has
turned its green roof into a tourist amenity, with hammocks for lounging and
a dining room with large windows overlooking the roof garden and the city.
Visitors linger and get absorbed in the views. Homeowners are offered
subsidies to change existing roofs and walls to native vegetation. Residents
are also allowed to remove a 16-inch strip of pavement against their houses
in order to plant native grasses and shrubs beneficial to bees, butterflies,
and birds. The city has even installed what it is calling "insect hotels,"
small chucks of wood with holes drilled in them to invite bees and bugs to
nest.

This patchwork of planted strips, parks, and roofs has the added benefit of
lowering temperatures in the city, sequestering carbon, and providing
pollinators for city gardens and urban farms. As a beekeeper, I dream of how
much more we could be doing here in Santa Barbara to encourage bee, insect,
bat, and bird populations.

 

 

 

 

 

 
(805) 962-2571
P.O. Box 92156, Santa Barbara, CA 93190
margie at sbpermaculture.org
 <http://www.sbpermaculture.org/> http://www.sbpermaculture.org

P Please consider the environment before printing this email

 

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