Pollinator and Beneficial Insect Conservation Short Course

March 1, 2019


This full day workshop will focus on concepts around protecting and enhancing populations of pollinators and beneficial insects in agricultural landscapes. The course will provide an overview of pollinator and beneficial insect natural history and farm practices that support these populations, such as protecting and creating habitat, modified horticultural practices, and advice on how to manage pests while protecting pollinators.

Introductory topics include the principles of pollinator biology and integrated crop pollination, the economics of insect pollination, basic field identification, and evaluating pollinator and beneficial insect habitat. Advanced modules will cover land management practices for pollinator protection, pollinator habitat restoration, incorporating pollinator conservation into federal conservation programs, selection of plants for pollinator enhancement sites, management of natural landscapes, and financial and technical resources to support these efforts. Throughout the short course these training modules are illustrated by case studies of pollinator conservation efforts across the country.

Registrants will receive the Xerces Society's Pollinator Conservation Toolkit which includes Xerces' book, Attracting Native Pollinators, as well as habitat management guidelines and relevant USDA-NRCS and extension publications.

The content of this course is tailored to the needs of NRCS, SWCD, Cooperative Extension, and state department of agriculture employees, as well as farmers, crop consultants, natural resource specialists, non-governmental conservation organization staff, and producers of bee-pollinated crops.

This short course is hosted by The Xerces Society and was made possible thanks to the support of the New York NRCS and the Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NY. Special thanks to CCE Harvest Urban Agriculture team for providing the venue for this event.