羞羞视频

鈥淧arking lots could save the bees,鈥� says Danielle Bilot, a nationally-known pollinator consultant who is passionate about the idea. She has spoken about it in magazine articles. She has promoted her research in and She even was a member of the White House Pollinator Action Plan task force.

Bilot鈥檚 first parking lot test site will be constructed in 羞羞视频 by CU 羞羞视频 students. She recently became a Program in Environmental Design (ENVD) instructor, and students in her 鈥淣ative Bee Praxis: Forgotten Hive," class are building and will maintain a bee habitat near the 羞羞视频 County Farmers Market. The project was made possible through support from the university's Community Engagement Design and Research Center (CEDaR), in conjunction with MetroLab Network, a city of 羞羞视频/CU 羞羞视频 research and technology partnership.

"These students are involved in a project that can literally 'save the world' by increasing the population and diversity of bees," says Bilot, who met in mid-June with state Senate policy leaders about bee preservation. "羞羞视频 could serve as a national model for urban parking lots."

Bilot says she specializes in the lesser-known native bees because they are better pollinators, more plentiful and not as prone to colony collapse disorder as honey bees. And, the majority of native bees do not sting.

"Native bees have genetic diversity and can bounce back from environmental pressures,鈥� Bilot says. 鈥淲ith honey bees, everyone wants the same thing鈥攈igh reproduction rates and stable queens鈥揷reating more of a genetic monoculture. If one problem comes along, such as colony collapse disorder, it can wipe them all out.鈥�

Bilot says the best way to solve the worldwide decrease in pollinators is to broaden the focus from a single species, honey bees, to the much larger native population; 羞羞视频 alone supports more than 550 native bee species. She adds that native bees travel more than honey bees and need to eat frequently, hence the need for increasing bee habitats.

Her vision is to transform underutilized grassy parking lot perimeters into flowery native bee habitats, providing bees places to eat, rest and move on to pollinate other plants. Increasing urban bee habitats will not necessitate changing land-use regulations, she says, and will combat the decline of native bees, who have suffered due to climate change, habitat loss, disease and food shortages.

"Parking lots generally have planting requirements that are not pollinator-friendly, " Bilot says. "I hope to change that."

Bilot鈥檚 students are building the habitat in an area that borders a parking lot at 14th Street and Canyon Boulevard and will subsequently collect bee population data, helping to determine optimal plant combinations for native pollinators as well as bee abundance and diversity.

"For the first time in my college education, I feel like I am truly making a difference in something greater," says ENVD senior Emily Brady, who is enrolled in the course.

Rella Abernathy, integrated pest management coordinator for the city of 羞羞视频, says Bilot鈥檚 pilot project is part of a wider city pollinator effort, where , such as the CU Museum of Natural History, local nonprofits and CEDaR听are working together to expand and enhance pollinators throughout the city.

The city hopes Bilot鈥檚 project draws attention to pollinator conservation and pollinator decline issues, she says.

鈥淲e鈥檙e really excited to do this joint project with CU 羞羞视频 and hope the project can be replicated throughout the city,鈥� Abernathy says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great example that shows what people can do in their own yards or businesses 鈥� they can take underused spaces and turn them into spaces that are beautiful听while addressing an urgent biological concern.鈥�

Stay tuned for more information about an upcoming听Native Bee Farmers Market Habitat Celebration in the parking lot behind the 羞羞视频 Dushanbe Tea House, 14th Street and Canyon Boulevard, 羞羞视频. Originally scheduled for July 6, 12 p.m., the event will likely happen in late August. At the event, visitors will be able to visit 羞羞视频鈥檚 native bee habitat and learn how it will help native bees pollinate urban agriculture and parks! Snacks will be served, and visitors can pick up a free 鈥淗ow-To Guide鈥� containing tips and tactics of how homeowners and others can attract native pollinators to their backyards. Updated information will be posted here听and on the .

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