The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host two public listening sessions to
solicit stakeholder input to assist the Pollinator Health Task Force in
development of a federal strategy to protect honey bees and other
pollinators.
This contrasts with Canada and Ontario where the governments have gone
behind closed doors and are consulting experts.
There's nothing wrong with consulting experts, but sometimes grassroots farmers have a good grasp on reality, not to mention common sense.
The U.S. task force is asking for input on the types of activities that
could be part of the strategy, including public-private partnerships, research,
educational opportunities, pollinator habitat improvements and pesticide risk
mitigation.
On June 20, 2014, President Obama issued a directive to federal agencies to create a
federal strategy to promote honey bee and other pollinator health.
The President’s directive created a Pollinator Health Task Force, co-chaired
by EPA and USDA, and charged federal agencies with expanding efforts to take
new steps to reverse pollinator losses and help restore populations to healthy
levels.
Feedback from the listening sessions will play an important role in the
Task Force’s efforts to develop a federal strategy.
The first listening session is Nov. 12.
