Pollinator Education Center at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Pollinators play a key role in ecosystem function and in agriculture, including thousands of native plants and more than one hundred U.S. crops that either need or benefit from pollinators. However, pollinators are in dramatic decline in Minnesota and throughout the country. The causes of the decline are not completely understood, but identified factors include loss of nesting sites, fewer flowers, increased disease, and increased pesticide use. Developing an aware, informed citizenry that understands this issue is one key to finding and implementing solutions to counteract these factors. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is using this appropriation to implement educational efforts designed to raise awareness about pollinators, their role in the environment and the economy, and the challenges they currently face due to recent unprecedented decline. Exhibits, programming, and demonstration sites will explore the role of pollinators in plant reproduction, maintaining biodiversity, and supporting agriculture and provide guidance on actions individuals can take, such as with their landscaping choices, to help pollinators.
$615,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to develop exhibits for an educational center that will offer hands-on learning experience about the role of pollinators and importance of pollinator habitat. Exhibits must utilize and integrate the best available science pertaining to all pollinator types, particularly native species. Approval of the work plan for this appropriation is contingent upon the organization addressing how it will increase access to the center by youth at no or limited cost.
Click on Work Plan under Project Details.
Click on Work Plan under Project Details.