Kentucky Ag News

Presentation on pollinator decline tops Nature Preserves Commission agenda

 

Special to Kentucky Agricultural News

 

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission (KSNPC) will conduct a public meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 12, in the E/F conference room of the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Office, 101 Lakeview Court, Frankfort.

During the meeting, there will be a presentation by KSNPC Invertebrate Biologist Ellis Laudermilk entitled, “Pollinators in Trouble: The Need for a Holistic Conservation Approach.” Pollinators such as bees and butterflies are essential to farmers, helping to produce many annual food crops. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that bees pollinate 75 percent of all nuts, fruits and vegetables grown in the U.S., a harvest worth between $20-$30 billion annually. The commission is making pollinator conservation a major priority.

The agenda will include the presentation of the Volunteer Steward Award to Boone County residents, Bob and Ruth Matheny. They were preserve stewards for Boone County Cliffs State Nature Preserve and nearby Dinsmore Woods State Nature Preserve for decades. The commission will also dedicate an addition to Blanton Forest State Nature Preserve in Harlan County.

For additional information, call (502) 573-2886 or visit the KSNPC website at http://naturepreserves.ky.gov.