NM Legislature passes bee-friendly memorial

State flower of New Mexico | Photo by Eric Ward

Never have I seen so many “whereas” issued on behalf of New Mexico’s pollinator posse. Thanks to one of my personal favorite politicos, Mimi Stewart, publicly-funded places like schools, universities, county and local municipalities are requested to:

1. Plant pollinator-friendly species
2. Provide educational signs for the public about the role of pollinators in our communities
3. Hold a Pollinator Appreciation Week (yay!)
4. Collaborate with scientists and orgs working on pollinator preservation

Thanks, Mimi! I know who’s getting a fat jar of local honey delivered to her office 😉

And thanks to local bee-appreciator Lexiecom for the tip.

Read the full memorial below.

2010 House Memorial 4

USE POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY PLANTS IN LANDSCAPING

Sponsor: Mimi Stewart

http://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/10%20Regular/final/HM004.pdf

A MEMORIAL REQUESTING THAT STATE AND COUNTY AGENCIES, MUNICIPALITIES,
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, USING EXISTING
RESOURCES, USE POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY PLANTS IN LANDSCAPING
PROJECTS.

WHEREAS, pollinator species are needed for the
reproduction of seventy-five to ninety percent of the world’s
flowering plants and more than one hundred fifty human food
crops, according to scientists; and

WHEREAS, pollinators are essential for New Mexico’s
agricultural economy; and

WHEREAS, nationwide, bees pollinate fifteen billion
dollars ($15,000,000,000) worth of crops, according to the
United States department of agriculture; and

WHEREAS, bees are important pollinators of chile and
other New Mexico products; and

WHEREAS, grazing animals are dependent on insectpollinated
legumes, such as alfalfa and clover, for forage;
and

WHEREAS, pollinator species are essential to producing
some of the crops that provide fiber and medicines; and

WHEREAS, flying insects, including bees and many species
of butterflies, moths, beetles and flies, are the most common
pollinators; and

WHEREAS, bats and many species of birds, including
hummingbirds, are also important pollinators; and

WHEREAS, populations of pollinators, including honeybees
and western bumblebees, have been declining over the past
decade; and

WHEREAS, there is a widespread lack of understanding
about the importance of pollination and pollinator species,
and there is a great need to educate the public about the
magnitude of the issue; and

WHEREAS, native plants tend to provide superior habitats
for native pollinators; and

WHEREAS, the unique flora and fauna of New Mexico
attract tourism and bring income to the state and could be
affected by the loss of pollinators, which help create and
preserve New Mexico’s beauty; and

WHEREAS, yucca moths are the only insects that pollinate
New Mexico’s state flower; and

WHEREAS, pollinator habitats tend to be degraded or
reduced by development, pesticide use and other human
activities; and

WHEREAS, the loss of pollinators could ultimately
threaten global food webs, biodiversity and human life; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico is rich in its variety of native
cultures and pollinators, and pollinated plants are
significant to native peoples for cultural symbolism, foods
and plant products; traditional medicines; and plant-based
dyes; and

WHEREAS, New Mexicans should be encouraged to plant a
diversity of native flowers and plants to maximize blooming
throughout the growing season and to maximize support of
pollinator diversity; and

WHEREAS, everyone’s future flies on the wings of
pollinators; and

WHEREAS, Mission Avenue elementary school wild friends
challenge every school in New Mexico to build and design their
own self-sustaining flower beds or cactus gardens or to plant
native bushes on their campuses;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that state and
county agencies, municipalities, public schools, colleges and
universities be requested to use pollinator-friendly plants,
including native eco-region specific plant mixtures, in
landscaping projects to create pollinator habitats; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that state and county agencies,
municipalities, public schools, colleges and universities be
requested to consider providing educational signs explaining
what is being done on site to support pollinators; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor be requested to
designate a New Mexico pollinator appreciation week with
appropriate ceremonies and activities that include encouraging
the public to take part in planting and preserving native
plant species; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that state and county agencies,
municipalities, public schools, colleges and universities be
requested to collaborate with scientists and organizations
such as the North American pollinator protection campaign to
study and plan pollinator conservation projects for New
Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to the office of the governor, the commissioner of
public lands, the New Mexico department of agriculture, the
economic development department, the energy, minerals and
natural resources department, the department of game and fish,
the general services department, the higher education
department, the public education department, the department of
transportation, the New Mexico association of counties and the
New Mexico municipal league.

Tags: legislation