Brunswick, Ga. – The University of Georgia Marine Extension Service and Georgia Sea Grant will celebrate National Pollinator Week this month in coastal Georgia. The university’s CoastScapes sustainable landscaping program and its partners will host an educational kickoff event June 20 from 9 a.m.-noon at the MAREX Brunswick station and native plant demonstration garden at 715 Bay St.
National Pollinator Week is an international celebration of the ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats, beetles and other animals. The June 20 event will include tours of the station’s pollinator habitat garden and other native plant gardens.
At 11 a.m., there will be a presentation on pollinator protection and native plant pollinator-friendly landscaping. The Glynn County Farm Bureau’s Beekeepers’ Committee will be on hand with a honeybee hive and beekeeping information.
“Pollinators are critical both to the environment and to human health,” said Keren Giovengo, CoastScapes program manager. “They transfer pollen between flowers, ensuring the growth of seeds and fruits. In the United States, approximately one out of every three bites of food you eat and beverages you drink depend on the work of a pollinating animal.”
The pollination work that bees accomplish annually accounts for more than $15 billion in added crop value nationally, particularly for specialty crops such as almonds and other nuts, berries, fruits and vegetables.
At the same time, scientific research reports that the European honeybee and several native bee species are in decline due to parasites, pesticides, habitat loss and other factors, said Giovengo.
“Our event is all about celebrating pollinators and educating folks on the importance and need to protect these invaluable animals,” said Giovengo. “With the recent rain, our demonstration garden is lush with vegetation. This event will be an excellent opportunity to learn about pollinators, explore the garden, watch pollinators in action and observe many of the native plants that local pollinators depend upon.”
For more information on pollinators, see www.coastscapes.org and choose “Landscaping for Wildlife.” The site features information on creating pollinator-friendly landscapes and other ways to promote and protect pollinators.
For more information on the event, call Giovengo at 912-280-1586.
Marine Extension Service and Georgia Sea Grant
The Marine Extension Service and Georgia Sea Grant are Public Service and Outreach units of the University of Georgia serving the Georgia coast. MAREX works to increase the efficiency of existing marine industries, identify new industries that do not harm the environment and increase public awareness and understanding of coastal ecosystems. Georgia Sea Grant is part of a national program under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that supports coastal research, education and outreach. The University of Georgia is a Land and Sea Grant institution. For more information, see http://www.marex.uga.edu or http://georgiaseagrant.uga.edu.
