YORKTON - By the time this column sees print we will be smack dab in the middle of ‘Pollinator Week’.
Now it is highly likely most do not know the week exists – in part because there are a plethora of weeks ‘proclaimed’ by some group or organization nearly every week that the efforts sort of get lost as near background noise in the crazy world we live in.
Let’s face it when you have the craziness of Donald Trump as US president, wildfires raging across the north, the Russian invasion of Ukraine ongoing and the list goes on, a week dedicated to pollinators can rather easily go overlooked.
But it shouldn’t be the case.
As much as we look to farmers as producers of the world food supply for an ever expanding population, much of that food would not be produced if not for one insect, or another, typically bees, playing the critical role of pollinating the plant.
But we also live in a world where insecticides and pesticides are used extensively – and not just by farmers.
It would be interesting to know how many people in a city such as Yorkton have headed out to their front yards and applied some herbicide to kill a dandelion.
As an early flowering plant dandelions are a key food source for native bees, so the destruction of the plants is not exactly a good thing for native pollinators.
Of course humankind’s record of dealing with wild species is littered with failures from the Great Auk to the Tasmanian Tiger to the Passenger Pigeon – all extinct thanks to man.
So having pollinator week to raise awareness for pollinators and spreading the word about what we can do to protect them is certainly not a bad idea – if people can tune into the message amid the trials of the world today.
“Pollinator Week 2025 is a celebration of the vital role that pollinators play in our ecosystems, economies, and agriculture,” notes pollinatorpartnership.ca. “Under the inspiring theme “Pollinator Cultural Connections,” this year’s event urges us to appreciate the essential role pollinators play in creating and expressing human culture, in all of its forms. These essential creatures, including bees, butterflies, moths, bats, beetles, and hummingbirds, (expanding the general view it’s all about bees), are the unsung heroes behind the food we enjoy and the beauty that surrounds us. As we reflect on the interconnectedness of our world, let’s unite in a collective effort to protect and preserve these crucial pollinators. By understanding the impact of our actions on their habitats and embracing sustainable practices, we can pave the way for a flourishing future. Join us in celebrating Pollinator Week 2025, and let’s cultivate a world where both nature and humanity thrive in harmony. Explore our resources, learn about pollinator-friendly initiatives, and be inspired to contribute to the vision of a greener and more sustainable tomorrow.”
It is a great idea for a week to have, and one that is essential for the pollinators for their critical job in producing food.
