The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Rush County Conservation District will host two Pollinator Conservation Planning Short Courses this week. These full-day trainings will provide the latest science-based approaches to reversing the trend of pollinator declines, and will equip you with the recipes necessary to protect and manage habitat for these vital insects.
The first workshop will be Tuesday, Aug. 22, at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K-156, Great Bend. The second workshop will be Wednesday at the Lee Richardson Zoo, 312 E Finnup Drive, Garden City. Both workshops will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration and meals for producers is covered by the grant the Rush County Conservation District received from the Kansas Soybean Commission. Other partners and agencies will need to pay a $30 registration fee; however, their meals will be covered from a donation from Sharp Bros Seed Co. Everyone will need to RSVP to register and reserve a meal. Call the conservation district at 785-222-2615 ext 101.
Pollinators are essential to our environment. The ecological service they provide is necessary for the reproduction of more than 85 percent of the world’s flowering plants and is fundamental to agriculture and natural ecosystems. More than two-thirds of the world’s crop species are dependent on pollination, with an annual estimated value of $18 to $27 billion in the United States alone. Beyond agriculture, pollinators are keystone species in most terrestrial ecosystems, since their activities are ultimately responsible for the seeds and fruits that feed everything from songbirds to black bears. Conservation of pollinating insects is critically important to preserving both wider biodiversity, as well as agriculture.
In many places, however, this essential service is at risk. In 2006, the National Academy of Sciences released the report Status of Pollinators in North America, which called attention to the decline of pollinators. The report urged agencies and organizations to increase awareness and protect pollinator habitat. The Pollinator Conservation Planning Short Course was developed to address this need.
Introductory topics include the principles of pollinator biology, the economics of insect pollination, basic bee field identification, and evaluating pollinator habitat. Advanced modules will cover land management practices for pollinator protection, pollinator habitat restoration, incorporating pollinator conservation into federal conservation programs, selection of plants for pollinator enhancement sites, management of natural landscapes, and financial and technical resources to support these efforts. Throughout the short course these training modules are illustrated by case studies of pollinator conservation efforts across the country.
Registrants will receive the book, “Attracting Native Pollinators - Protecting North America’s Bees and Butterflies,” as well as links to habitat management guidelines and relevant USDA-NRCS and extension publications.

Alicia Boor is the Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Barton County K-State Research and Extension. Contact her by email at aboor@ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.