What are Pollinator Pathways?

According to pollinator-pathway.org, pollinator pathways are, "public and private pesticide-free corridors of native plants that provide nutrition and habitat for pollinating insects and birds. Even the smallest green spaces, like flower boxes and curb strips, can be part of a pathway." Essentially these pathways act as patches of habitat for both insect, avian, and mammalian pollinators to rest, refuel, and shelter. 

How Do Pollinator Pathways Benefit Humans?

According to NASA.gov, "[green spaces] can encourage exercise, provide spaces for socializing, decrease noise and air pollution, and improve immune function by providing exposure to beneficial microbiota. It also can help with psychological restoration; that is, green space provides a respite for over-stimulated minds." These benefits help all Berkeley residents, especially families and student populations. 

Fairfield, Connecticut

The City of Fairfield, Connecticut, has joined in partnership with the Aspetuck Land Trust, Connecticut Audubon Society, Fairfield Forestry Committee, and The Mill River Wetland Committee. This coalition can serve as a model to incorporate several different actors in the pollinator protection movement. The Aspetuck Land Trust has goals to implement several pollinator pathways into a larger regional “Green Corridor” initiative. The initiative maintains the three critical elements of the pollinator protection program: planting native, reduction of pesticides, and rethinking residential lawns. 

In Appleton, Wisconsin, the city asked its residents to participate in what is known as “No Mow May”. This resulted in the flowering of what many would consider weeds, such as white clover and dandelions. 

On March 16, 2022, the city amended it’s municipal code to accommodate "No Mow May". Residential areas within the city will not be subject to fines or penalties for weeds below 12 inches this applies to both residential and commercial properties. The residential height was adjusted from it’s previous height limit of 8 inches. 

Berkeley's Green Infrastructure Plan as an opportunity

The Public Works Department can prioritize planting native and pollinator friendly plant species into 2019 Green Infrastructure Plan projects, especially:

• Green Roofs - While green roofs are mentioned in the 2019 plan, they could be required for a variety of construction proposals. 

• Vegetated Swales (Bioswales) - Broad, shallow channels designed to filter surface runoff could be planted as pollinator hot-spots, and featured in many planned projects. 

• Bio-retention cells (Rain Gardens) - Vegetated strips that include a pond for capturing runoff can be designed with pollinators in mind, and incorporated into median strips, planter strips, and curb extensions. 

Bioswales and rain gardens, in addition to being water quality and flood mitigations, also incorporate additional green space into the built environment. 

Toronto, Ontario's Pollinator Protection Strategy

The City of Toronto formally adopted a comprehensive plan to support biodiversity. Part of this plan is a "Pollinator Protection Strategy"  that includes 6 priorities and 30 actions to be taken by the City of Toronto. Three of the priorities resonate most for the City of Berkeley. 

• Toronto set goals to examine city procurement policy to insure purchase of native plants seeds not treated with neoniconitoids

• Toronto recognized the need for pollinator pathways, and plans to develep corridors throughout the city and region

• Toronto plans to make pollinator-friendly renovations to its city hall and other municipal buildings.

Toronto published its priorities and actions, to which they can be held accountable, and integrated pollinator protection into the city's wider biodiversity strategy.