Protecting Wisconsin’s pollinators

One of the most important members of our growing community are the friendly pollinators who thrive in our backyards and farms. Besides their crucial role in pollinating our picturesque gardens, pollinators are vital to the well-being of Wisconsin’s agricultural sector. In fact, here in our state pollinators contribute to over $55 million in annual crop production, $3.5 million in commodities, and most importantly, one in every three bites of food we consume.

Sadly, these members of our community are suffering due to human development and unsustainable practices. During the past 30 years, Wisconsin’s native pollinator populations have suffered serious losses at the hands of human development, improper pesticide usage and invasive pests and diseases. Together, these factors are creating a perfect storm against our buzzing friends, and Wisconsin has seen over a 60% decrease in pollinator populations.

The truth of the matter is that our state’s well-being and economic capabilities are deeply interconnected with pollinator health, and our careless expansion into native habitats is coming back to sting us. Without action, pollinator populations will continue to shrink and our state’s agriculture-based economy will stagnate. 

I am proud to author several pieces of legislation that would enhance the well-being of Wisconsin’s pollinators and protect our state’s economy from drastic decline. This includes LRB-4138, which creates a task force on pollinator health. This task force will bring together academic experts, community stakeholders and state legislators to develop comprehensive recommendations and legislative priorities to address this environmental crisis. 

When it comes to protecting these keystone species, we must take an all-inclusive approach that prioritizes public education campaigns, integrated habitat restoration projects and limiting the use of detrimental pesticides. Through common sense legislation and community action, we have the ability to stop pollinator declines while developing a bright and buzzing future in Wisconsin.