Growing The Pollinator Initiative

Green space, park access, and trees

South Bay Other

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Many people are unaware of the connection between pollinators and our food supply. Bees, butterflies, and birds are essential plant workers,and the glue that holds native habitats together and connects them with our agricultural system. Engaging and educating families and restoring habitats helps improve communities and increase ecosystem health, biodiversity, and productivity for all life. Habitat loss resulting from urbanization has endangered pollinator species and resulted in cities that lack open green space. Nature deficit disorder and other health issues are some of the consequences on the population. Climate change has resulted in increasingly erratic weather patterns, impacting wildlife and humans alike. Restoration of native habitats may help mitigate and remediate some of the most devastating effects. A healthy pollinator population is essential for ensuring thriving native habitats, which is ultimately essential for human health and survival in a vibrant Los Angeles County.

The Pollinator Initiative has the power to build better pollinator habitats because we do more than just plant natives: we collaborate with groups to mobilize and educate a volunteer force who can learn and teach others to plant at their homes, schools, businesses, and restoration sites. Grant funding will facilitate additional growth of this program through the construction of a greenhouse, essential to a nursery operation. Volunteers will collect and germinate native seeds, grow plants, and ultimately distribute the seeds and plants to the Los Angeles area community.
Habitat restoration lacking an education component is unsustainable: by demonstrating to various audiences the need to care about pollinators and their habitats, we create a sustainable program that engages community members long-term. With grant funding, we can expand our existing education programs to include more pollinator-protecting activities: monthly school and community presentations; an expanded Student Ambassador Program; educational nature experiences at restoration sites; STEAM programs; and internships and scholarships. SBPC’s educational initiatives dovetail with our efforts to restore habitat and acquire parkland. This grant funding will enable us to expand restoration activities to support pollinators, plant reproduction, and biodiversity, and will facilitate the expansion of a cornerstone of our Pollinator Initiative: providing educational native seed packets and plants to community members.

SBPC inspires and empowers communities to protect, tend and nurture land, water and life through advocacy, education and hands-on stewardship. We are initiating a nursery operation to enable us to expand our program and provide natives to the community. We have secured nursery space in two cities. We need to construct a greenhouse at one to germinate seeds, then seedlings will be moved to a second nursery area to mature. The greenhouse has been selected, the foundation built, and when we secure funding, we will build it. This operation will require an expansion of our educational offerings, training, and volunteer opportunities. As we continue to expand our educational offerings to the community, the interest in pollinators and habitats grows. By Growing the Pollinator Initiative, SBPC will support a vibrant, thriving L.A. We envision a biodiverse and thriving planet, connecting communities with nature and each other for the well-being of all life, now and for generations to come.