Photo: Kevin Wood/Flickr Creative Commons 2.0
Local communities have a big role to play in sustaining pollinators and other beneficial insects. In addition to creating habitat, this includes protecting insects from the harmful effects of pesticides. There are many tools available to municipalities for reducing risks from pesticides, and municipal policies and programs are instrumental in this work. Municipal agencies or departments can voluntarily update rules and practices, and elected officials can pass resolutions or ordinances to advance risk reduction strategies. Some communities have focused specifically on reducing the use of insecticides, which are especially risky for pollinators. Other communities have taken a holistic approach to reduce use of all pesticides, including herbicides and fungicides. Regardless of population size or geographic location, municipalities across the country can help bring back the pollinators and reduce risks from pesticides through thoughtful policies and programs.
At the Xerces Society, we advocate for land management that utilizes principles of ecologically-responsible Integrated Pest Management, or IPM. This approach emphasizes prevention and eliminating the underlying cause of pest, weed, and disease issues while minimizing risks to the environment and people. A critical component of this IPM framework is an emphasis on the protection of pollinators and other wildlife. Local policies and programs can:
- Develop and implement a written IPM plan to guide management practices on municipal lands. Ensure Integrated Pest Management protocols include key elements to support pollinators and other biodiversity.
Examples: Eugene, OR; San Francisco, CA; Santa Fe, NM - Codify a commitment to organic land management practices on municipal lands.
Examples: Durango, CO; Brunswick, ME; Manitou Springs, CO - Develop and implement an ecologically-based mosquito management program that utilizes monitoring, source reduction, public education, early-season intervention and larval control. Mosquito adulticides are used as a last resort, and only in response to a public health threat.
Examples: Boulder, CO; Albuquerque, NM; Multnomah County, OR; DeKalb County, GA
Coupled with holistic land management strategies, more specific steps can be taken to codify a commitment to protecting biodiversity by reducing pesticide use on municipal lands. Local policies and programs can:
- Set specific goals for pesticide use reduction over time. This can include a reduction in acres treated, number of pesticide applications, or pounds of pesticides used. This can also include transitioning to lower risk application methods to reduce off-site movement of pesticides.
Example: Northampton, MA - Designate pesticide-free areas or zones on municipal lands. Pesticide-free spaces may include specific parks, ecologically sensitive areas, or high-use facilities where human exposure is more likely to occur.
Examples: Wichita, KS; Dubuque, IA; Plainville, CT; Township of Bernards, NJ; Eugene, OR - Discontinue the use of systemic, highly-toxic, or other high-risk chemicals on municipal lands.
Examples: Seattle, WA; Austin, TX; Sacramento, CA - Discontinue pesticide use to treat nuisance or cosmetic pests. This includes pesticide use that does not provide an economic or ecological benefit, but is used to maintain an aesthetic standard.
Example: Ontario, Canada - Restrict sale and use of pesticides by residents within the city or county. Note that this is only possible in states without pesticide preemption, or states where local municipalities retain authority to regulate pesticides.
Examples: Montgomery County, MD; Harpswell, ME; Skagway, AK
Regionally appropriate native plants serve as valuable habitat for bees, butterflies, and other insect life. Adding a diversity of native plants to residential, urban, and suburban areas also enhances landscape resilience by enhancing water retention and filtration, contributing to urban cooling, and reducing likelihood of pest problems and pesticide use. Local policies and programs can:
- Establish native plant requirements for landscaping in municipal spaces and/or new commercial and private developments.
Examples: Somerville, MA; Encinitas, CA; Carlisle, MA - Ensure that only bee-safe, pesticide-free plants are selected when purchasing new materials for municipal plantings.
Example: Lafayette, CO - see resolution no. 2015-57, item #5 - Ensure that residents are permitted to use native plants and pollinator habitat in their yards and gardens.
Examples: Akron, OH; Overland Park, KS; Minneapolis, MN; Charlotte, NC - Prevent HOAs and covenant communities within the city or county from setting standards that prompt the use of pesticides.
Example: Alachua County, FL Water Quality Code, Sec. 77.69