We should thank a pollinator at every meal. These diminutive creatures fertilize a third of the crops we eat. Yet half of the 200,000 species of pollinators are threatened. Birds, bats, insects, and many other pollinators are disappearing, putting our entire food supply in jeopardy. In North America and Europe, bee populations have already plummeted by more than a third and the population of butterflies has declined 31 percent.
Protecting Pollinators explores why the statistics have become so dire and how they can be reversed. Jodi Helmer breaks down the latest science on environmental threats and takes readers inside the most promising conservation initiatives. Efforts include famers reducing pesticides, cities creating butterfly highways, volunteers ripping up invasive plants, gardeners planting native flowers, and citizen scientists monitoring migration.
Along with inspiring stories of revival and lessons from failed projects, readers will find practical tips to get involved. They will also be reminded of the magic of pollinators--not only the iconic monarch and dainty hummingbird, but the drab hawk moth and homely bats that are just as essential. Without pollinators, the world would be a duller, blander place. Helmer shows how we can make sure they are always fluttering, soaring, and buzzing around us.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Chapter 1. Bees and Beyond
Chapter 2. No Place Like Home
Chapter 3. Taming Toxics
Chapter 4. The Need for Native Plants
Chapter 5. Lessons from a Warming Planet
Chapter 6. Helping without Hurting
Chapter 7. Stand Up and Be Counted
Acknowledgments
Selected Bibliography
Index
"Well done resume of the latest challenges in pollinator protection...this book has great strengths. It not only lists the difficulties, but also gives numerous practical solutions for them."-- "Conservation Biology"
"This book is ... easy to read, and written in a compelling way. The author uses familiar images to help readers envision the biological details of insect/plant interactions and human influences on how those things work."-- "Natural Areas Journal"
"The loss of pollinators receives a lot of press, but there's a lot of conflicting information and debate about causes. Protecting Pollinators presents the most compelling and science-based overview...Even better, it's presented in a highly readable book that can help you make a difference...Whether you're just looking to grow some beneficial plants in your backyard or you're a dedicated scientist, you'll refer to this handy book again and again."-- "Nature's "Cool Green Science" blog"
Jodi Helmer writes about food and farming while tending gardens and keeping bees on a small homestead in North Carolina. She is the author of six books, including Farm Fresh Georgia and Growing Your Own Tea Garden.