College of the Canyons: A Trailblazer in Pollinator Conservation
The College of the Canyons (COC) has proudly announced its recent designation as a Bee Campus USA affiliate, making it the sole community college in Southern California to achieve this important recognition. This honor underscores COC’s enduring dedication to preserving pollinators, restoring native habitats, and promoting biodiversity education.
Commitment to Pollinator Conservation
As an affiliate of Bee Campus USA, COC is set to enhance its initiatives aimed at supporting native pollinators. The college plans to create healthy habitats that feature a variety of native plants, provide safe nesting sites, and maintain landscapes with minimal pesticide usage. This effort is especially critical given the alarming trend of declining native pollinator populations, with research indicating that up to 40% of pollinator species globally face extinction due to habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and climate change.
Jeannie Chari, COC’s biodiversity initiative coordinator, expressed the pride of the Bee Campus Committee in leading this vital program. She emphasized how this recognition empowers faculty, staff, students, and community members to engage in learning about and supporting essential ecosystem services provided by pollinators.
Engaging Community and Research Initiatives
COC’s designation as a Bee Campus USA affiliate complements its ongoing projects funded by the National Science Foundation. The grant, titled “The BUZZ: Engaging Community College Students in Native Bee Biodiversity Research,” facilitates collaborative work involving 33 community colleges across California and four in Arizona. In this initiative, students utilize their campuses as Living Labs to gather data that informs the development and enhancement of habitats for native bees.
Chari highlighted that these initiatives benefit not just bees, but also butterflies, birds, and the overall biodiversity of ecosystems.
Expanding Pollinator-Focused Efforts
With a strong foundation for pollinator-centered activities, COC boasts resources such as a large greenhouse for growing native plants and a free seed library that makes native plant seeds accessible to the community. The college also offers a Bachelor of Science degree focused on Building Performance, which integrates biodiversity into the design of the built environment. Student organizations, like the Outdoor Education Club and the Hands on Earth Club, actively participate in conservation efforts and habitat enhancement activities.
The Role of Bee Campus USA
Bee Campus USA, managed by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, focuses on advancing community and campus initiatives aimed at sustaining pollinators through the provision of healthy habitats rich in native flora and free from pesticides. Pollinators, including bumble bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, play an indispensable role in the reproduction of nearly 90% of flowering plant species and contribute to one out of every three bites of food we consume.
Scott Hoffman Black, executive director of the Xerces Society, explained the program’s goal is to make individuals more pollinator-conscious. Encouraging communities to plant native, pesticide-free flowers can significantly aid in sustaining various pollinator species.
Get Involved
Those interested in supporting COC’s efforts as a Bee Campus affiliate can learn more about how to participate by emailing COCBEECampus@canyons.edu.
This initiative highlights the vital necessity of pollinator conservation and its cascading impact on biodiversity. As educational institutions like College of the Canyons champion these causes, they pave the way for a healthier ecological future.
For additional insights, consider visiting the Bee Campus USA website or exploring resources from the Xerces Society to better understand how to support pollinator habitats in your community.
