Pollinator Decline/Native Plants

Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and other beneficial insects are experiencing significant declines due to habitat loss, pesticide use, invasive species, disease, and climate change. As natural landscapes are replaced with development and non-native lawns, many pollinators struggle to find the nectar, pollen, and host plants they need to survive and reproduce. Native plants play a critical role in reversing this decline because they evolved alongside local wildlife and provide the specific food and shelter pollinators depend upon throughout their life cycles. By planting native flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees, we can create healthy habitats that support biodiversity, strengthen food webs, improve ecosystem resilience, and help ensure that pollinators continue their essential work of pollinating wild plants and many of the foods we rely on every day.

Bartow Senior Center, Cartersville, GA

Photo: MU Extension