NPS / Tanner Humphries
The vast majority of plants in North Coast and Cascades parks rely on bees, butterflies, and other insect pollinators for successful reproduction. Yet until recently, these parks knew very little about their pollinator fauna. Research efforts such as inventories, bioblitzes, and citizen science monitoring programs are now providing parks with critical information on pollinator diversity and distribution from coastal beaches to subalpine meadows. In the face of threats such as habitat loss and climate change, knowing more about the diversity and habitat needs of these easily-overlooked but immensely important creatures will help parks manage and protect pollinators and the ecosystems they support.
Last updated: February 20, 2019