To many, honey bees represent a critical indicator of the health of our environment and ecosystems. When dire reports forecasted that honey bee populations were declining, businesses, non-profits, and education programs stepped up, instructing individuals to practice beekeeping and bolster honey bee populations as a method of protecting the environment. As a result of these initiatives, the number of honey bee colonies in the United States increased by 14% from 2020.ⁱ However, recent research on the impact of these honey bee-centric pollinator conservation efforts suggests that these endeavors may actually cause more harm than good. 

Competition Between Native Bees and Honey Bees  

The introduction of non-native honey bee populations into ecosystems increases competition for resources, such as forage, between these honey bees and native bees. Honey bees are highly generalist foragers, collecting pollen from all available plant species. For example, 2 million honey bees collect the equivalent amount of pollen and nectar as 4 million native bees.ⁱⁱ When more honey bee colonies are introduced into an area, these generalist pollinators monopolize flower resources, which creates competition with native bees for specific flowers and plants. Considering that honey bees and native pollinators already face challenges in finding forage due to habitat degradation and other factors, the introduction of honey bees can put even more strain on native bee populations.   

Spread of Disease 

Additionally, because honey bees are internationally exchanged, they often carry and transfer fatal diseases to native bees, which further weakens native bee populations. According to a 2019 study from the University of Vermont, with the introduction of honey bees to ecosystems, the viruses found in the honey bees transfer to bumble bees and other native bees, through shared usage of flowers.ⁱⁱⁱ Many of the diseases that native bees receive from honey bees can be fatal, such as the deformed wing virus, which results in wing and abdominal abnormalities. 

Impacts of Honey Bees on Pollination and Ecosystems 

In the past, the impact of introducing honey bees to an overall ecosystem was largely unknown. However, in a 2020 study conducted by the Spanish National Research Council, researchers introduced thousands of honey bee colonies to the Canary Islands, which previously had no honey bee population. After removing these hives, the researchers found that introducing honey bees negatively impacted the relationship between native pollinators and plants and decreased the rate of successful pollination for native plants. Furthermore, the researchers also found that key indicators of ecosystem resilience also declined.^iv Overall, this study suggested that the introduction of honey bees can have large-scale, negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems.  

In the past, scientists believed that the introduction of honey bees into ecosystems produced net benefits for the environment and pollination. However, new research complicates this, suggesting that honey bees can directly harm native bee populations and ecosystems. While honey bees are vital for agricultural and crop pollination, native bees are crucially for effectively pollinating thousands of native plants species and maintaining our ecosystems and biodiversity. In order to preserve native bees, it is necessary to take steps to directly help these populations, including planting habitat, avoiding pesticides, and conducting research on the causes of their decline, rather than focusing our attention solely on honey bees. 

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^i. Julia Jacobo, “Nearly 40% decline in honeybee population last winter ‘unsustainable,’ experts say,” ABC News, July 9, 2018, https://abcnews.go.com/US/40-decline-honey-bee-population-winter-unsustainable-experts/story?id=64191609.

^ii. “Landmark Report: Hundreds of Native Bee Species Sliding toward Extinction,” Center for Biological Diversity, accessed February 11, 2022, https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2017/bees-03-01-2017.php.

^iii. J. Seifert, “Neonicotinoids,” Journal of Toxicology, no. 3 (2014): 477-482.

^iv.  Thomas James Wood, The Environmental Risks of neonicotinoid pesticides: a review of the evidence post-2013 (Cold Spring Harbor, 2017), https://search.proquest.com/docview/2 070155369/2F5C856D20CA419EPQ/12?accountid=36236.

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As more people become aware of the role of pollinators, legislators are facing citizen proposals to change the way they classify, and manage lawns and public spaces. One of the targets of change is a group of plants called “weeds.” Weeds are defined as “plants that are not valued where they are growing” and “usually have a vigorous growth.” Combined with a post WWII nationwide movement to have green carpet-like lawns, communities adopted a range of laws that encouraged manicured green spaces at the cost of plant diversity. Some also prohibited where property owners could grow what plants, such as vegetable beds on front lawns.

Research confirms those expanses of green are barren of any contributions back to the ecosystem and are expensive and high maintenance. There are an estimated 40 to 50 million acres of lawn in the US: 40% is residential lawns, 20% lines roadsides, and about 3% is on golf courses. As more land gets developed, there will be a decrease in available food species pollinators depend on, contributing to their decline and extinction. It may also affect us. One out of every three bites of healthy food we eat is courtesy of pollinators.

How to Make Changes
Making legislative changes can be challenging. Besides going against accepted practices, new laws can inadvertently impact others. I know what it’s like to be on both sides of those proposals. For many years I made a number of suggestions to our local government for non-profits I started, beginning with an animal shelter in 1979. Then for 8 years I sat on that same government entity listening to others make their proposed changes and improvements. In 2015, I worked with a Missouri State Beekeepers Association team to change Missouri’s honey labelling laws.
The good news is the process is the same; the challenge is finding out who to know and who supports the concept you are proposing.

The following are some of my suggestions on how to prepare yourself, and take on, making changes. These principles will work for the various levels of government with the focus on your local government.

Do your homework.
You are going to be the “voice’ of the proposed change you want made. You need to know as much, if not more, of anyone about every aspect of the proposal. You will need to:

• Research and know your local ordinances. Check with your city clerk to get a good starting point.
• Understand how your local governing body operates.
• Know your state laws and how they impact your community.
• Identify the alternative(s) you want.
• Make sure your alternative(s) will “fit” your community.
• Take photos to “show” the change you want made. Better yet, have a demonstration of what you are proposing. Some people are not exposed to alternatives so make it easy for them to understand what you are proposing. Something visual is much easier to understand than a long description.
• Remember to do an inventory of your own practices. If you yourself are not following what you propose it won’t take much to defeat it.

Identify who will challenge proposed changes.
Knowing who may oppose you may help you assess how difficult, or easy, it will be to make the changes you are proposing. Who may be opposed and why?

Start with the most impacted. How do the neighbors feel about the proposed changes, are they supportive of your efforts? One of the easiest steps you can take is to set up a demonstration somewhere – your own property or a local nearby school or vacant property. Put up signs explaining what you are doing. A number of national groups offer attractive signs that can be part of your effort to educate people. You will also find a percentage of people who don’t understand.

Education is the best approach before you make a proposal; enlisting the support of well-respected community members can help increase understanding and backing. Another group will be opposed because the change impacts them directly. If you can substantiate how your proposal will benefit them – less work, less cost, possible voter support – you will get the attention of this group.

A percentage of opposition will be from people who don’t like change. Set those names aside because you may have enough support to get your proposal approved without them. In general, people who don’t like change are a tough group to convince otherwise.

Once you have identified your opponents, prepare how you will address their concerns. Is there someone else who can talk to them besides you? Do you have arguments to address their concerns? As with a lot of things in life, it’s who you know who can make a difference.

How does your government work.
Spend extra time getting to know how your government works and how proposals get reviewed and approved.
Discuss with city government officials one on one.
Identify their concerns and note how you will address them.
Address their concerns in your one-page summary.
Check with other groups that have approach your government to make changes; learn from their experience and follow their advice.

Identify who may support changes.
Just as important as knowing your opponents, you need to identify those individuals and groups who will support you. You may need to call on them to help you with your proposal. Are they

• Neighbors?
• City officials?
• Community groups?

If they look like the same groups that could be opposed, they could be. It is up to you to know who the principal influences and decision-makers are and where key individuals stand. The more you know about the critical players in these groups, the more successful you will be getting your proposal approved.

Prepare yourself.
You need to know your proposal so well that you are talking about it in your sleep.
Here are some things you can do to prepare yourself:

• Develop a one page summary of issue/proposed solution. Include photos!
• Practice an elevator speech, which is a 15-second, easy to understand pitch. What are you proposing and why?
• Practice a media interview. Who/what/where/when/why/withwhom/how much. Keep your answers short. Summarize.

Depending on other factors, such as when your supporters can help, set up a contact calendar. Making changes can take time. Having a calendar will keep you focused and help you make the meetings and other events that will require your time.

Once you feel you are ready, set up your list of potential contacts.

Rally supporters.
The first names on your contact list should be your supporters.

Neighbors ok? Make sure to have their support. Pass out one page summary copies to them. Get them organized and ready to help you with emails, attending meetings, making phone calls, answering questions.

Talk to other support groups. Identified other groups that agree with you? Ask them to attend/email and show support. Some groups pass resolutions showing their collective support of proposals. Depending on your timeline, get on their schedule to debate and vote on your proposal.

One of the more popular approaches to show support is to circulate petitions. Don’t focus on numbers; make sure the signatures are from people who understand the issue and truly support it.

Make your case/presentation.
Ready to make your proposal? Know what the meeting rules are and follow them:

• Pass out one page summary of issue/proposed solution (with photos)
• Listen to discussion; take notes on who is supporting you.
• Encourage support groups to attend meetings with you.
• Observe time limits.
• Dress professionally.
• Follow-up one on one with supporters.
• Track your issue.

Be ready to work with media.
Sometimes there is a tendency to go straight to media with an issue. I recommend you talk to potential supporters and voters first. Sometimes getting media support can appear as pressuring a governmental entity and that can strain the working relationship.

On the other hand, most government meetings have local media attending. If you don’t know who they are before you attend the meeting, introduce yourself during a meeting break and get their names and contact information. Be ready to provide yours.

• Give media your one-page summary of issue/proposed solution (with photos)
• Be prepared to answer questions.
• If you don’t know, say so, then follow up with the information they requested.

Track your proposal.
One presentation will not usually do it so you need to shepherd your presentation. Keep your calendar updated and follow up on any requests for information.

• Follow-up with elected supporters. Ask them for their help and thank them along the way. Keep asking what happens next.
• Count your votes. Know how many votes you need and where you are in getting those votes.
• Be patient with the process but keep after it.
• Provide updates; keep answering questions and keep in contact with your supporters.

With time, and persistence, you should be able to make the change you want made.

Charlotte Ekker Wiggins has a master’s degree in management from Webster University. She was elected to her 25,000 population city government from 1999-2007. She is the author of “Bee Club Basics or How to Start a Bee Club,” a management guide for local bee clubs available on Amazon. More info at www.charlotteekkerwiggins.com.

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                                       PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

HAZARDS TO HUMANS AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS DANGER: Corrosive; causes irreversible eye damage. May be fatal if absorbed though the skin. Harmful if swallowed or inhaled. Do not get in eyes, on skin or on clothing. Avoid breathing vapor or spray mist.

My husband was wearing shorts and sandals, with none of the protective, PPE, or knowledge of the safety recommendations or environmental hazards of the product.

I began researching and downloading studies from the internet. These are available for anyone to read. The damage to human health has been researched by M.D.s and Ph.D.s. The results have been published in medical journals. I took my large binder of these studies with me when I met with the Executive Director of our local children’s museum. My concern was, not only the honey bees that the museum kept with indoor viewing, but the danger to the children’s exposure to the lawn chemicals that were being applied.

After discussing the original lawn, Dutch white clover mixed with grass seed, Jeff Mehn informed me he only liked just grass. It was what is socially expected. He wasn’t concerned about the bees or the children.

Time passed, the bees died, and I auditioned for a local Art Center performance. When I made the cut, I was told my stage was set up at the Above and Beyond Children’s Museum. Of course, I had to check out the lawn and the set up before hand. I was thrilled to find clover in the lawn! Jeff and I had another meeting.

My next step was asking Michele Colopy, then Director of the Pollinator Stewardship Council, if a letter could be sent commending the change. The idea being to reinforce the positive and encourage a new perspective on lawn care.
This excellent letter is still influencing my local community today.

Grandma Jo
grandmajo4bees @gmail.com
White Clover for Honey Bees

https://www.facebook.com/whitecloverforhoneybees/

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